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Historic lows in cattle on feed report

USDA’s latest cattle on feed report includes some historic lows.

Placements during August 2014 were 1.720 million head, down 3% from August 2013, and the lowest for the month since the series of reports started in 1996. That’s due to the very tight supply of feeder cattle, good grazing conditions, and expectations for better wheat grazing, and marks the sixth consecutive month of lower placements. By weight, placements of cattle weighing less than 600 pounds were 410,000 head and 600 to 699 pound placements were 280,000 head, while 700 to 799 pound placements were 395,000 head and placements on cattle weighing 800 pounds and heavier were 635,000 head.

Marketings were 10% lower than last year at 1.692 million head, also the lowest for the month since this series of reports began.

The total number of cattle on feed in the U.S. on September 1 was 9.799 million head, 1% less than a year ago.

Other disappearances were 66,000 head, a 32% jump.

The next set of cattle on feed numbers is out October 24.