December marketings were about as expected at 100.8% of one year ago. However, with one less slaughter day in the month, daily average marketings were 5% higher year over year in December. The Jan. 1 on feed total was 12.037 million head, 100.6% of last year. On Jan. 1, the inventory of steers in feedlots was 0.5% below one year ago, while the number of heifers on feed was up 2.4% year over year.
Although cattle numbers are generally declining, feedlots will try to maintain inventories as long as possible. Following a similar pattern to November, most of the increase in December placements was lightweight cattle. Placements of cattle weighing less than 700 pounds were up 9.5% year over year, while placements of cattle over 800 pounds were up just 1.7% compared to last year. Cattle producers may have helped feedlots with large December placements as rising feeder prices encouraged later and larger auction totals … at least in some regions. In Oklahoma, for example, feeder cattle auction totals for the three weeks of December sales were up 22.4% year over year. Feeder cattle supplies are expected to tighten considerably in 2022.
With the final numbers for December completing the year, commercial beef production in 2021 totaled 27.937 billion pounds, up 2.8% year over year and a new record annual total for the U.S. Total cattle slaughter (federally inspected) was 33.184 million head, up 3.2% over 2020. It’s worth noting that 2021 had a total of 254 slaughter days, two less than 2020 (a leap year). Total slaughter days per year vary from 254 to 256 and usually only change by one day more or less per year.
Total steer and heifer (fed) slaughter was 25.972 million head in 2021, with steer slaughter at 16.145 million head. Heifer slaughter was 9.827 million head and made up 37.8% of fed slaughter, the largest percentage since 2004. Total cow slaughter was 6.669 million head and accounted for 20.1% of total slaughter, the highest percentage since 2011. Beef cow slaughter totaled 3.562 million head, up 9% year over year.
Steer carcass weights averaged 906 pounds last year, down 1 pound from 2020. Average steer carcass weights exceeded average bull carcass weights (884 pounds in 2021) for the third year in a row. Heifer carcass weights averaged 831 pounds, down 1.8 pounds year over year. Cow carcass weights averaged 637 pounds, down 3.8 pounds from the prior year.
Declining cattle numbers are projected to reduce cattle slaughter by 2.5%-3% in 2022 and lead to a 2.5% decrease in beef production for the year. However, drought could change the timing by forcing more liquidation and slaughter sooner and delaying the decrease in production until later. 
This article originally appeared in the Jan. 24, 2022, OSU Cow/Calf Corner newsletter.
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Derrell S. Peel
- Livestock Marketing Specialist
- Oklahoma State University Extension
