Page 6 - MWC 2-3-2022s

The Midwest Cattleman · February 3, 2022 · P6
Feedlots Maintain Cattle Inventories

By Derrell Peel - Oklahoma State University
Unexpectedly large Decem- about as expected at 100.8 per- pounds were up just 1.7 per-
ber placements once again cent of one year ago. However, cent compared to last year.
pushed feedlot inventories with one less slaughter day in Cattle producers may have
higher year-over-year on Jan- the month, daily average mar- helped feedlots with large De-
uary 1. Feedlot placements ketings were 5 percent higher cember placements as rising
in December were 106.5 per- year over year in December. feeder prices encouraged later
cent of last year, higher than The January 1 on feed total and larger auction totals…at
the average trade expectation was 12.037 million head, 100.6 least in some regions. In Okla- 256 and usually only change
and above the trade estimate percent of last year. On Janu- homa, for example, feeder cat- by one day more or less per
range. ary 1, the inventory of steers in tle auction totals for the three year.
December marketings were feedlots was 0.5 percent below weeks of December sales were Total steer and heifer (fed)
one year ago while the up 22.4 percent year over year. slaughter was 25.972 mil-
number of heifers on feed Feeder cattle supplies are ex- lion head in 2021 with steer
was up 2.4 percent year- pected to tighten considerably slaughter at 16.145 million
over-year. in 2022. head. Heifer slaughter was
Although cattle num- With the final numbers 9.827 million head and made
bers are generally de- for December completing the up 37.8 percent of fed slaugh-
clining, feedlots will try year, commercial beef produc- ter, the largest percentage
to maintain inventories tion in 2021 totaled 27.937 since 2004. Total cow slaugh-
as long as possible. Fol- billion pounds, up 2.8 percent ter was 6.669 million head and
lowing a similar pattern year over year and a new re- accounted for 20.1 percent of
to November, most of the cord annual total for the U.S. total slaughter, the highest
increase in December Total cattle slaughter (federal- percentage since 2011. Beef
placements was light- ly inspected) was 33.184 mil- cow slaughter totaled 3.562
weight cattle. Place- lion head, up 3.2 percent over million head, up 9.0 percent
ments of cattle weighing 2020. It’s worth noting that year over year.
less than 700 pounds 2021 had a total of 254 slaugh- Steer carcass weights av-
were up 9.5 percent year ter days, two less than 2020 eraged 906 pounds last year,
over year while place- (a leap year). Total slaughter down one pound from 2020.
ments of cattle over 800 days per year vary from 254 to continued on page 15

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