Cattle on Feed Report 12/20 14:31

Dec. 1 Cattle on Feed Down Slightly From Year Ago

By DTN Staff

USDA Actual Average Estimate Range
On Feed Dec. 1 100% 99.9% 99.4-100.6%
Placed in November 96% 95.9% 92.6-98.9%
Marketed in November 99% 98.1% 96.6-98.7%

This article was originally published at 2:06 p.m. CST on
Friday, Dec. 20. It was last updated with additional information
at 2:31 p.m. CST on Friday, Dec. 20.

**

OMAHA (DTN) -- 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 Dec. 1, 2024. The
inventory was slightly below Dec. 1, 2023, USDA NASS reported on
Friday.

Placements in feedlots during November totaled 1.80 million
head, 4% below 2023. Net placements were 1.74 million head.
During November, placements of cattle and calves weighing less
than 600 pounds were 495,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 420,000
head, 700-799 pounds were 375,000 head, 800-899 pounds were
276,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 145,000 head, and 1,000 pounds
and greater were 85,000 head.

Marketings of fed cattle during November totaled 1.73 million
head, 1% below 2023.

Other disappearance totaled 55,000 head during November, 2%
above 2023.

DTN ANALYSIS

"Friday's Cattle on Feed report should be viewed as neutral to
somewhat bullish, as actual USDA data came out almost identical
to what pre-report estimates were," said DTN Livestock Analyst
ShayLe Stewart. "I understand that both the on-feed and
placement data came in 1/10 of a percentage higher than
originally forecast, but thinking that sliver of a difference
should mean that the report should be viewed as neutral/somewhat
bearish is splitting hairs.

"What I was especially interested to see in today's report was
the placement data, as on Nov. 25, all cattle imports from
Mexico into the United States were halted when a cow tested
positive with New World screwworm in southern Mexico. And while
all the weight divisions of calves/feeders weighing under 600
pounds to 900 pounds were lighter than a year ago, there wasn't
a drastic, notable change in the quantities placed. I suspect
that we won't see a notable difference in the placement data
until next month, as imports from Mexico remain restricted.

"Once again, Friday's Cattle on Feed report will likely be
something traders quickly glance over on Monday but that has
little effect on the market given that next week is a holiday
week for Christmas and that the report didn't unveil anything
alarming."

**

DTN subscribers can view the full Cattle on Feed reports in the
Livestock Archives folder under the Markets menu. The report is
also available at https://www.nass.usda.gov/.