The United States had 11.6 million head of cattle and calves on feed for slaughter as of March 1, 2023, a 4% decrease from the previous year, according to the USDA NASS report. The placements in feedlots in February were 7% lower than in 2022, totaling 1.73 million head. Marketings of fed cattle also decreased by 5% compared to February 2022. DTN Livestock Analyst ShayLe Stewart views the report as neutral to somewhat bullish, highlighting the decrease in cattle placements and the fewer numbers of cattle available, which is expected to have significant implications for the industry.