Feedlots Experience Slowdown To Start 2023

The nation’s largest feedlots saw fewer placements and marketings for the final month of 2022.  The monthly USDA Cattle on Feed report released Friday showed an eight-percent drop in placements during December, totaling 1,804,000 head.  Marketings were down six percent at 1,741,000.  That resulted in a feeder population of 11,682,000 head to start the year, down three percent from a year ago.  About 60 percent of the total were steers.