Cattle on feed reports show tighter supplies

Oct 31, 2023

U.S. cattle and calves on feed for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head were estimated at 11.6 million on October 1, 2023, 1% higher than the same time last year,” says Ann Boyda, provincial livestock market analyst with the Alberta government. “Placements during September were 6% higher than 2022. Dryness in many parts of the U.S. pushed more cattle into feedlots. The pace of marketing slowed during September to 1.66 million head, 11% below 2022.”

Placements were up primarily in the cattle feeding areas of Kansas and Texas with increases of 60,000 and 55,000 head, respectively. California, Colorado and Idaho placed fewer cattle on feed than the year prior. Heifers on feed were at 4,635,000 head for October 1, 2023, a 1.3% increase over 2022 numbers which suggests little retention in the U.S.

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Video: Season 7, Episode 1: Managing Risk and Seeing Opportunities in U.S. Pork Production

Today’s episode features three guests discussing the similarities and differences between pork production in the United States and Brazil, along with strategies for managing risk in today’s industry while recognizing and acting on opportunities. First, Dr. Anne Caroline de Lara, executive manager of live pig production at Seara Alimentos, a JBS company in Brazil, is joined by Dr. Matthew Turner, head of operations for JBS Live Pork. Together, they discuss how labor, climate and ventilation challenges vary between Brazil and the United States, while underscoring their shared commitment to raising healthy pigs. They also point to lessons producers in both countries can take from one another’s systems and on-farm experiences. Then, Brady Reicks, risk manager at Reicks View Farms, shares his perspective on risk management, drawing from his background in markets and his transition into farming. He discusses how protecting margins varies by operation and offers practical approaches producers can use to make marketing and business decisions with greater confidence rather than hesitation.

Both conversations were recorded at recent industry events focused on swine livability, including the International Conference on Pig Livability and Iowa Swine Day.