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Cattle on Feed report shows a huge jump in placements

The latest Cattle on Feed report from the USDA shows cattle placements for July were up 11 percent compared to year-ago levels.

University of Missouri livestock economist Scott Brown says there are 4 states that are driving that increase.  “Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, and Colorado all were up in terms of placements relative to a year ago,” he says.  “You look at placements in Kansas, up 16 percent.  The rest of the country, for a 1,000 head-plus feed yards, was down 6.4 percent.”

Brown says that also indicates some declines in smaller farmer feed yards.

He tells Brownfield placements by weight category portray a very clear future for on-feed numbers down the road.  “We’re up in the less-than 600, we’re up in the 600 to 699 weight group, we’re up in the 700 to 799 weight class, and we’re up in the 800 to 899 group,” he says.  “We have to get in the 900 and above weight classes to actually see some reductions.”

The total number of cattle on feed August 1 was up nearly 2% and Brown says that was also outside the pre-report range. 

Placements in Nebraska were up 18 percent from a year ago.
Placements in Iowa were up 3 percent from last year.
Placements in South Dakota were down 13 percent from year-ago levels.
Placements in Minnesota were unchanged from 2019.