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May cattle placements jump 12%

The USDA says more cattle were placed on feed in May than what many analysts were expecting.

Placements jumped 12% to 2.119 million head, analysts were expecting an average of about 10.5%, with those cattle heading to market this winter. Pasture conditions generally look good and feed costs are relatively low. By weight, placements of cattle weighing less than 600 pounds were 400,000 head, with 600 to 699 pound placements at 315,000 head and 700 to 799 pound placements at 529,000 head, while placements of cattle weighing 800 to 899 pounds were 550,000 head, 900 to 999 pound placements were 235,000 head, and placements of cattle weighing more than 1,000 pounds were 90,000 head.

Marketings were 9% above a year ago at 1.951 million head, with one more business day in May 2017 than in May 2016.

The total number of cattle on feed as of June 1st was up 3% on the year at 11.096 million head.

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