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December cattle placements drop 8% on year
The USDA says 1.804 million head of cattle were placed into U.S. feedlots in December.
That was down 8% from December 2021 with the usual holiday related slowdown in placements amplified by winter storms in most of the major feeding areas that canceled sales events and limited livestock movement. Tighter numbers caused by cattle being pulled forward earlier in the year also contributed to the decline.
Most of the cattle that did make it to the feedlots weighed less than 800 pounds, headed for slaughter later this summer.
Marketings during December were 6% lower at 1.741 million head as packers cut back processing speed to limit price increases.
The total number of cattle on feed in the U.S. on January 1st, 2023 was 11.682 million head, a year-to-year decrease of 3%.
The tighter numbers generally look supportive for cash and wholesale business, but that will also depend on beef demand.
The USDA’s semi-annual Cattle Inventory report, which provides estimates of total inventory, beef cows, milk cows, bulls, replacement heifers, other steers and heifers, and number of calves born in the previous year by state and the U.S., is out January 31st.
Breakdowns for Brownfield states:
Iowa: On Feed: 620,000 head, up 3% from January 1st, 2022; Placements: 84,000 head, 1% less than December 2021; Marketings: 92,000 head, steady with the previous year
Kansas: On Feed: 2.39 million head, down 4% from January 1st, 2022; Placements: 440,000 head, 2% less than December 2021; Marketings: 370,000 head, 14% lower than the previous year
Minnesota: On Feed: 95,000 head, down 5% from January 1st, 2022; Placements: 13,000 head, 18% more than December 2021; Marketings: 12,000 head, 20% lower than the previous year
Nebraska: On Feed: 2.6 million head, unchanged from January 1st, 2022; Placements: 470,000 head, 7% less than December 2021; Marketings: 470,000 head, 1% lower than the previous year
South Dakota: On Feed: 210,000 head, down 9% from January 1st, 2022; Placements: 34,000 head, 21% less than December 2021; Marketings: 40,000 head, 11% lower than the previous year
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