The December Cattle on Feed report showed November placements 103.6% of last year and marketings 105.3% of one year ago. November had one more business day than 2021.

Domestic red meat demand and corn prices are two current drivers of the fed cattle market.

The September USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Cattle on Feed report pegged Sept. 1 feedlot inventories at 11.234 million head, 98.6% of last year.

The July USDA Cattle on Feed report shows July feedlot inventories of 11.29 million head, down 1.3% from last year and down 1.7% compared to 2019.

The latest USDA Cattle on Feed report pegs May 1 feedlot inventories at 11.725 million head, 104.7% of last year. A more useful comparison is to 2019 levels with the 2021 May 1 total down 0.7% from May 2019.

The April USDA Cattle on Feed report requires careful interpretation. The typical year-to-year comparisons are mostly meaningless because of the pandemic disruptions affecting markets one year ago.

A large winter storm is advancing across the central U.S. bringing cold temperatures and some much-needed moisture. Oklahoma is expected to see a first freeze and precipitation ranging from rain to freezing rain to ice to snow through midweek. Farther north and west, snow and cold are blanketing much of the Rocky Mountain and Plains regions. Fluctuating temperatures and cold, wet conditions add additional stress and health challenges for cattle, particularly for weaning calves and receiving stockers and feedlot cattle.