U.S. Cattle on Feed Up Slightly

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 12.0 million head on December 1, 2020. The inventory was slightly above December 1, 2019.

Placements in feedlots during November totaled 1.91 million head, 9 percent below 2019. Net placements were 1.85 million head. During November, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 520,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 460,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 400,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 306,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 130,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 90,000 head.

Marketings of fed cattle during November totaled 1.78 million head, 2 percent below 2019.

Other disappearance totaled 61,000 head during November, 6 percent below 2019.

Source: USDA