Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.61 million cattle on feed on January 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was up 10% from last year.

December placements totaled 460,000 head, up 2% from 2016. Fed cattle marketings for December totaled 425,000 head, down 3% from last year.

Other disappearance during December totaled 15,000 head, up 5,000 head from last year.

US Cattle on Feed Up 8%

US cattle and calves in feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.5 million head on January 1, 2018. The inventory was 8% above January 1, 2017. The inventory included 7.34 million steers and steer calves, up 4% from the previous year. This group accounted for 64% of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.15 million head, up 16% from 2017.

Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.80 million head, 1% above 2016. Net placements were 1.73 million head. During December, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 470,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 410,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 445,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 279,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 100,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 95,000 head.

Marketings of fed cattle during December totaled 1.75 million head, 1% below 2016. Other disappearance totaled 74,000 head during December, 35% above 2016.