Cattle on Feed Numbers Down in September

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Minnesota feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 85,000 head on October 1, 2022, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This was down 6 percent from September and down 6 percent from October 1, 2021. 

Placements of cattle and calves in Minnesota feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during September totaled 14,000 head, down 22 percent from August and down 26 percent from last year. 

Marketings of fed cattle from Minnesota feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during September totaled 18,000 head, up 50 percent from August but unchanged from last year. 

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.4 million head on October 1, 2022. The inventory was 1 percent below October 1, 2021. The inventory included 6.90 million steers and steer calves, down 2 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 60 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.55 million head, up 1 percent from 2021. 

Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.08 million head, 4 percent below 2021. Net placements were 2.03 million head. During September, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 445,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 330,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 440,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 480,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 290,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 95,000 head. 

Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.86 million head, 4 percent above 2021.