Highest February Inventory For Cattle On Feed

The nation’s largest feedlots started February with the most cattle on hand for this time of year.  USDA’s monthly Cattle On Feed report indicated 12,199,000 head on hand to start the month, up about one percent from a year ago.  Placements during January totaled 1,999,000 head, down one percent from last year, while marketings were up three percent at 1,773,000 head.  USDA also reported Friday that feedlots with capacity of at least 1000 head accounted for 81.9 percent of all feedlot populations in 2021, a slightly greater share than a year ago.