USDA estimated there were 11.982 million head of cattle in large feedlots (1,000-plus head) as of Dec. 1, down 34,000 head (0.3%) from year-ago. Placements declined 3.7%, while marketings dropped 1.5% from November 2023.
| Cattle on Feed Report | USDA (% of year-ago) | Average Estimate (% of year-ago) |
| On Feed on Dec. 1 | 99.7 | 99.7 |
| Placements in November | 96.3 | 94.9 |
| Marketings in November | 98.5 | 98.2 |
Placements declined from year-ago in each of the lower four weight categories, with lightweights (under 600 lbs.) down 6.6%, 6-weights down 4.5%, 7-weights down 1.3% and 8-weights down 4.8%. Heavyweight (1,000-plus lbs.) placements were equal to November 2023, while 9-weights increased 3.6%, though those two categories accounted for only 230,000 head of the 1.796 million head placed in feedlots last month.
On a state-by-state basis, placements declined 20,000 head in Colorado, 45,000 head in Texas and 39,000 head in “other states,” while they increased 15,000 head in Kansas and 20,000 head in Nebraska.
This data is fully neutral and should have virtually no market impact.