Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 8/27/18


Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.1 million head on Aug. 1, 2018. The inventory was 5 percent above a year ago and the highest Aug. 1 inventory since the series began in 1996, according to USDA’s monthly Cattle on Feed report.

Placements in feedlots during July totaled 1.74 million head, 8 percent above 2017. Net placements were 1.68 million head. The placements were on the high end of analysts’ expectations.

During July, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 410,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 290,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 415,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 367,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 175,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 85,000 head.

The Daily Livestock Report, published by Steiner Consulting Group, noted that placements of cattle under 600 pounds were up 14 percent and those 600-699 pounds were up 23 percent.  

Marketings of fed cattle during July totaled 1.87 million head, 5 percent above 2017. 

Other disappearance totaled 63,000 head during July, which was 31 percent above the same month a year ago.

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