The USDA says there were 1.999 million cattle placed into U.S. feedlots during January 2022.
That’s down 1% from January 2021, with concerns about high feed costs partially canceling out the impact of poor pasture conditions and tight hay supplies in many of the major feeding areas.
About three quarters of the monthly total weigh less than 800 pounds, which might be an indication ranchers are expecting lower feed costs in the coming months, giving them more time to feed out before heading to market this summer.
