Market Briefs 10 30 2024

U.S. cattle inventory down slightly

Iowa cattle marketings surged in September, beating last year by 6%.

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States, in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head, totaled 11.6 million head on Oct. 1. The inventory was slightly below year-ago levels.

Iowa's total was 660,000 head of cattle in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more, up 2% from Oct. 1, 2023, and even with last month's inventory.

Placements nationally during September totaled 2.16 million head, 2% below 2023.

Iowa's placements were...