Source: Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE, 5/25/18


The U.S. cattle on feed inventory on May was 11.6 million head, a 5 percent increase from the year-earlier tally, USDA said in a report Friday.

The second-highest May 1 inventory taken since the USDA report began in 1996 was right in line with what analysts expected.

Placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.70 million head, 8 percent below in 2017. Analysts predicted a 9.4 percent decline based on higher placements last fall and earlier in the year due to poor pasture and winter wheat conditions.

Net placements were 1.63 million head. During April, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 320,000 head,600-699 pounds were 230,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 415,000 head,800-899 pounds were 445,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 205,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 80,000 head.

Daily Livestock Report analysts note that a drop in placements in March and April will have little impact on marketings in the summer but will impact availability by fall and early winter.

Marketings of fed cattle during April totaled 1.80 million head, 6 percent above 2017 and right in line with analysts’ expectations.

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