USDA releases updated cattle inventory data

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 620,000 head on Feb. 1, 2023, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service — Cattle on Feed report. This was unchanged from January, but up 2% from Feb. 1, 2022. Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head had 535,000 head on feed, up 1 percent from last month but down 9 percent from last year. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in all Iowa feedlots totaled 1,155,000 head, up slightly from last month but down 3 percent from last year.

Placements of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during January 2023 totaled 105,000 head, up 25% from December but down 5% from January 2022. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head placed 58,000 head, up 16% from December but down 32% from January 2022. Placements for all feedlots in Iowa totaled 163,000 head, up 22% from December but down 16% from January 2022.

Marketings of fed cattle from Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during January 2023 totaled 103,000 head, up 12% from December and up 5% from January 2022. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head marketed 50,000 head, up 6% from December but down 21% from January 2022. Marketings for all feedlots in Iowa were 153,000 head, up 10% from December but down 5% from January 2022. Other disappearance from all feedlots in Iowa totaled 5,000 head.

Note: This report is a combination of estimates from the USDA Cattle on Feed survey for Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship-funded Cattle on Feed survey for Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head.