# Heifers continue to buoy feedlot inventory | Ag Proud

> USDA Economic Research Service analysts report that the October 1 cattle on feed inventory was 11.6 million head, nearly flat year over year. September feedlot placements were 2% lower than a year earlier, while marketings rose 2%. Heifer retention has kept feedlot numbers steady and pushed the share of cattle on feed over 150 days higher.

- Date: 2024-12-18 · published 2024-12-18T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: report · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/27094-heifers-continue-to-buoy-feedlot-inventory-ag-proud
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

A larger supply of fed steers and heifers coming to market in coming quarters adds near-term slaughter supply, which is bearish for fed cattle prices.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: bearish ▼
- LCATTLE: bearish ▼

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LCATTLE | 2019-09-23 | [Feedlot inventories peaking?](https://feedsoft.ai/events/57205-feedlot-inventories-peaking.md) | +3.8% | +10.2% |
| LCATTLE | 2018-04-23 | [COF report shows more heifers in feedlots - Brownfield Ag News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/65648-cof-report-shows-more-heifers-in-feedlots-brownfield-ag-news.md) | +3.1% | -6.5% |
| LCATTLE | 2022-04-25 | [Beef production continues to be down in 2022 - Progressive Cattle \| Ag Proud](https://feedsoft.ai/events/41788-beef-production-continues-to-be-down-in-2022-progressive-cattle-ag-proud.md) | +0.5% | -3.4% |
| LCATTLE | 2017-07-24 | [Cattle futures hit hard by on feed, inventory numbers - Brownfield Ag News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/70086-cattle-futures-hit-hard-by-on-feed-inventory-numbers-brownfield-ag-news.md) | -1.6% | -6.2% |
| LCATTLE | 2022-05-25 | [Record Number of Cattle on Feed and Record Low Inventory Outside of Feedlots](https://feedsoft.ai/events/41541-record-number-of-cattle-on-feed-and-record-low-inventory-outside-of-feedlots.md) | -1.3% | +3.1% |
| FCATTLE | 2019-09-23 | [Feedlot inventories peaking?](https://feedsoft.ai/events/57205-feedlot-inventories-peaking.md) | +2.9% | +2.3% |
| FCATTLE | 2018-04-23 | [COF report shows more heifers in feedlots - Brownfield Ag News](https://feedsoft.ai/events/65648-cof-report-shows-more-heifers-in-feedlots-brownfield-ag-news.md) | +3.4% | -3.7% |
| FCATTLE | 2022-04-25 | [Beef production continues to be down in 2022 - Progressive Cattle \| Ag Proud](https://feedsoft.ai/events/41788-beef-production-continues-to-be-down-in-2022-progressive-cattle-ag-proud.md) | -1.0% | -2.9% |

## Sources

- agproud.com: https://www.agproud.com/articles/60760-heifers-continue-to-buoy-feedlot-inventory

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.