By DTN Staff

This article was originally published at 2:03 p.m. CST on Friday, Dec. 20. It was last updated with additional information at 3:01 p.m. CST on Friday, Dec. 20.

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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."

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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/….

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