Source: MEATINGPLACE, 7/25/16

USDA reported on Friday that cattle placed in feedlots during June totaled 1.53 million head, 3 percent above 2015, and less than analysts were expecting.

While still the largest placement for the month in three years, analysts were expecting more than a 6 percent increase in the feedlot herd. The lower total suggests that recent price drops in the cost of beef cuts will modulate down the road. June placements are one of the factors determining the supply of cattle for marketing beginning in October.

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.4 million head on July 1, 2016. The inventory was 1 percent above year-earlier levels. The inventory included
6.87 million steers and steer calves, down 1 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 66 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.49 million head, up 5 percent from 2015.

Net placements were 1.46 million head. During June, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 290,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 255,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 340,000 head, and 800 pounds and greater were 640,000 head.

Marketings of fed cattle during June totaled 1.91 million head, 9 percent above 2015.
Other disappearance totaled 61,000 head during June, 12 percent below 2015.

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