Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 2/23/15


Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.7 million head on Feb. 1, 2015. The inventory was slightly above Feb. 1, 2014 and in line with market expectations.

Placements in feedlots during January totaled 1.79 million, 11 percent below 2014 and below analysts’ expectations. On average, market analysts were expecting placements to be down just 8 percent from a year earlier, according to a pre-report survey by Urner Barry. 

Net placements were 1.71 million head. During January, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds totaled 405,000, while those weighing 600-699 pounds totaled 340,000, those weighing 700-799 pounds totaled 477,000, and those 800 pounds and greater were 565,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during January totaled 1.63 million, 9 percent below 2014. On average, analysts were expecting marketings to be down just 6 percent. January marketings are the lowest since the series began in 1996.

Other disappearance totaled 77,000 during January, up 8 percent from 2014.

USDA has revised monthly cattle on feed estimates back to February 2013 to better align with the definition that cattle should grade select or better to be counted in the NASS monthly cattle on feed program. This means that cows and bulls have been removed from these previous estimates and future cattle on feed estimates.

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