Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.8 million head on January 1st.  The inventory was 1% below January 1st, 2024.  The inventory includes 7.25 million steers and steer calves, up 1% year-over-year.  This group accounted for 61% of the total inventory.  Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.58 million head, down 3% from 2024.

 

“This report was about as bullish of a report that cattlemen could have hoped for,” said DTN Livestock Analyst ShayLe Stewart.  “It’s a relief to see more marketings taking place, which, in combination with lighter placements, helped decrease the total number of cattle on feed.”

 

Marketings of fed cattle during December totaled 1.74 million head, 1% higher than last year. Other disappearances totaled 59,000 head during December, 2% below 2023.

 

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