Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 9/23/13

USDA reported cattle placed in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head during August totaled 1.79 million, 11 percent below 2012 and the lowest since USDA started reporting this series in 1996.
On average, analysts were expecting placements to down about 8.4 percent, according to a Dow Jones pre-report survey.

Net placements were 1.73 million head. During August, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 405,000, while placements at  600-699 pounds totaled 338,000, placements at 700-799 pounds were 430,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 615,000.

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter totaled 9.9 million head on Sept. 1, 2013, down 7 percent below a year ago and in line with analysts’ expectations.

Marketings of fed cattle during August totaled 1.88 million, 4 percent below 2012 and compared to analysts’ average estimate of a 4.5 percent decline. Monthly marketings for August are the second lowest since the series began in 1996.

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