# Feedlot placements ‘finally’ below year-ago levels

> USDA's December Cattle on Feed report showed the feedlot inventory at 12.0 million head, up 3% from a year earlier, with Texas and Kansas leading gains. November placements of 1.87 million head were 2% below last year. Analysts noted dry conditions and poor wheat pasture pushed cattle into feedlots earlier than normal.

- Date: 2024-01-01 · published 2024-01-01T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: report · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/32854-feedlot-placements-finally-below-year-ago-levels
- Commodities: [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md), [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Corn](https://feedsoft.ai/c/CORN.md)

## Why it matters

Earlier placements shrink the supply available for later placement, supporting firmer feeder prices in 2024. Sustained feedlot inventories keep feed grain demand steady.

## Read by commodity

- CORN: bullish ▲
- FCATTLE: bullish ▲
- LCATTLE: bullish ▲

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| FCATTLE | 2020-12-22 | [Feedlot inventory near year-ago levels](https://feedsoft.ai/events/49804-feedlot-inventory-near-year-ago-levels.md) | -0.7% | -3.4% |
| FCATTLE | 2024-11-26 | [USDA Reports Rising Cattle Feedlot Placements](https://feedsoft.ai/events/27556-usda-reports-rising-cattle-feedlot-placements.md) | +1.5% | +0.1% |
| FCATTLE | 2026-09-22 | [Cattle futures surge on weak feedlot placements - CME
						 \| The Cattle Site](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17615-cattle-futures-surge-on-weak-feedlot-placements-cme-the-cattle-site.md) | -1.7% | +2.1% |
| FCATTLE | 2025-01-31 | [U.S. Beef Cattle Inventory Falls to the Lowest Level in 64 Years - AgWeb](https://feedsoft.ai/events/26447-u-s-beef-cattle-inventory-falls-to-the-lowest-level-in-64-years-agweb.md) | -5.9% | -2.5% |
| FCATTLE | 2018-12-31 | [Aggressive marketings keep feedlots current at year end](https://feedsoft.ai/events/7357-aggressive-marketings-keep-feedlots-current-at-year-end.md) | -2.1% | -4.3% |
| LCATTLE | 2020-12-22 | [Feedlot inventory near year-ago levels](https://feedsoft.ai/events/49804-feedlot-inventory-near-year-ago-levels.md) | +2.1% | +2.8% |
| LCATTLE | 2026-09-22 | [Cattle futures surge on weak feedlot placements - CME
						 \| The Cattle Site](https://feedsoft.ai/events/17615-cattle-futures-surge-on-weak-feedlot-placements-cme-the-cattle-site.md) | -1.1% | +2.0% |
| LCATTLE | 2025-01-31 | [U.S. Beef Cattle Inventory Falls to the Lowest Level in 64 Years - AgWeb](https://feedsoft.ai/events/26447-u-s-beef-cattle-inventory-falls-to-the-lowest-level-in-64-years-agweb.md) | -0.9% | -3.5% |

## Sources

- beefmagazine.com: https://www.beefmagazine.com/market-news/feedlot-placements-finally-below-year-ago-levels

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