Page 6 - MWC 2-2-2023s

The Midwest Cattleman · February 2, 2023 · P6
Fewer Heifers in Feedlots...Finally!

By Derrell Peel - Oklahoma State University
The January Cattle on Feed lower December marketings
report from USDA-NASS may reflect delayed shipments
showed the fourth consecutive due to the December winter
month of declining feedlot in- storm.
ventories starting in October. December placements were
The January 1 on-feed total down 8.0 percent year over
for feedlots with capacity of year, also as expected. Monthly
1,000 head or more was down feedlot placements were down
2.9 percent year over year. year over year in nine of the
The January 1 feedlot total of twelve months of 2022. Total
11.682 million head was larger placements the last six months
than the December 2022 total from July – December, which
by a scant 9,000 head but still accounts for almost all cattle in
below the November total of the feedlots currently, is down
11.696 million head. It looks 3.1 percent from last year.
increasingly like the early The latest report also includ- since July 2021. Large heifer ages 122.9
November seasonal peak will ed the quarterly breakdown of numbers in feedlots supported percent of
hold. If so, the November total steers and heifers in feedlots. the 4.8 percent year over year the month-
was 4.1 below the previous sea- The steer total on January 1 increase in heifer slaughter in ly January
sonal peak in February 2022 was down 4.5 percent year over 2022 and was the largest heifer 1 total and
and suggests sharply tighter year. Steers in feedlots have slaughter total since 2004. The a c c o u n t s
feedlot numbers going forward. decreased on a year over year decrease in feedlot heifers does for feed-
December marketings were basis for 6 of the last 7 quar- not, at this point, reflect heif- lots smaller
down 6.1 percent year over ters going back to July 2021. er retention but simply a lack than 1,000
year, close to pre-report expec- The feedlot heifer inventory of heifers due to large heifer head capacity. This suggests
tations. The marketings num- on January 1 was down by 0.5 slaughter the past two years. that the January 1 U.S. feedlot
ber is in line with December percent year over year. This The Cattle report to be re- inventory is expected to be 14.4
fed (steer + heifer) slaughter, is a small decrease but sig- leased on January 31 will in- million head, down 2.3 percent
which was down 5.9 percent nificant as it is the first year clude a feedlot total for all from 2022.
year over year. Feedlots appear over year quarterly decrease feedlots. The total U.S. feedlot
to still be current though the in feedlot heifer inventories inventory for January 1 aver-

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