Lightweight Cattle Placements Soar

For the first time since April 2002, the USDA-NASS Monthly Cattle on Feed report (released Nov. 21) showed the on-feed inventory above a year earlier.  As of Nov. 1, U.S. cattle on-feed totaled 11.03 million head, 2.8 percent above 2002’s (about 296,000 head), but 7 percent below 2001.  In contrast, Canadian feedlots continued to report cattle on-feed inventories well below a year ago.  The number of cattle on-feed in Alberta and Saskatchewan was about 623,000 head, 29 percent below last year and around 46 percent less than 2001.

October placements of cattle into U.S. feedlots were 16 percent above a year ago. Compared to last year, placements of lightweight calves (cattle under 600 pounds) were up most dramatically (26 percent or 214,000).  Clearly the number of cattle sent to wheat and other winter pastures has been well below 2002’s. 

Cattle feeders marketed 1.86 million head in October, which was about 6 percent lower than 2002.

U.S. steer and heifer slaughter for October was 11 percent below a year ago. Disappearance totaled 101,000 during October, 20 percent above 2002 and 49 percent above 2001.

Source:  Livestock Marketing Information Center