The Jan. 1, 2018, inventory of cattle in feedlots was 11.49 million head, 108.3 percent of year-earlier levels. This is an increase of 884,000 head compared with Jan. 1, 2017, and is the largest January on-feed total since 2012. For the 12 months of 2017, feedlot placements totaled 23.5 million head, up 1.91 million head (an 8.8 percent increase) from 2016. Total 2017 marketings increased 1.03 million head year over year, up 4.9 percent.
December placements were up 0.8 percent year over year, slightly more than expected. This follows large year-over-year placement increases in September, October and November. December marketings were equal to expectations, down 1.4 percent from the previous year. December had one less business day compared with a year earlier, thus daily average marketings were still larger year over year as it was every month in 2017. In the last five months of 2017, feedlot placements exceeded marketings by 506,000 head. These additional cattle will be marketed in the first four to six months of 2018.
December feedlot placements consisted of an unusual pattern of weights with increased year-over-year placements of feeders under 600 pounds and over 1,000 pounds. Placements of typical weights from 600 to 900 pounds were down 4.7 percent year over year. Beginning in 2017, monthly cattle on feed reports now include more detail on placements of feeder cattle over 800 pounds, with data now showing 800- to 899-, 900- to 999- and over 1,000-pound placement categories.
Over all 12 months of 2017, feedlot placements over 1,000 pounds represented 4.3 percent of total placements; 900 to 999 pounds were 8.9 percent; and 800 to 899 pounds were 21.8 percent of total placements. The 700- to 799-pound weight group was the largest category at 24.9 percent. Placements of feeders from 600 to 699 pounds was 18.5 percent of the total placements, while those under 600 pounds were 21.5 percent of the total. Placements under 600 pounds likely include many dairy calves and seasonally some beef calves. Total placements of feeders under 600 pounds were up 11.4 percent in 2017 over 2016, including a 30 percent year-over-year jump in under 600-pound placements in November that was attributed to lack of wheat pasture in the Southern Plains.
The latest cattle on feed report also included the breakdown of steers and heifers on feed. Steers on feed Jan. 1 were 7.34 million head, up 4.5 percent year over year. Heifers on feed were 4.15 million head, up 15.9 percent over one year ago. The number of steers on feed was the largest since 2008, while the number of heifers on feed was the largest since 2012. The heifer feedlot inventory swelled sharply in the last half of 2017 and indicates slowing heifer retention. However, it should be noted that the ratio of steer-to-heifer slaughter in 2017 was still well above long-term average levels, meaning that growing heifer feedlot inventories relative to steers are really just getting back to more typical levels of heifer feeding after sharp reductions due to drought and herd expansion since 2012. 
Derrell S. Peel is an Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist. This originally appeared in the Jan. 29, 2018, OSU Cow/Calf Corner newsletter.
