Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 5/22/15

USDA’s monthly Cattle on Feed report estimated cattle and calves placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.55 million, 5 percent below 2014 and well below what market analysts were expecting. Net placements were 1.48 million head.

Placements were well below what analysts were expecting. In a wide range, analysts polled by Urner Barry were expecting placements to be anywhere from 2.6 percent below to 5.5 percent above placements last April. On average, analysts were expecting placements to come in 2.4 percent above a year ago.

During April, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 320,000. Placements at 600-699 pounds were 240,000. Placements at 700-799 pounds were 348,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 640,000.

USDA reported cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.6 million head on May 1, 2015. The inventory was 1 percent above that of May 1, 2014.

Marketings of fed cattle during April totaled 1.64 million, 8 percent below 2014. April marketings were the lowest since the series began in 1996, but they were in line with what analysts were expecting.

Other disappearance totaled 66,000 during April, 20 percent below that of 2014.

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