Cattle On Feed

– Brenda Boetel, Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Wisconsin-River Falls

The United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA, NASS) released their monthly Cattle on Feed report on Friday December 18, 2015. The latest numbers released by the USDA were bullish in total numbers of cattle on feed, placements and marketings, compared to trade expectations. Total cattle on feed on December 1, 2015 numbered 10.79 million head, on par with last month and minimally below December 2014 levels. Pre-report estimates expected cattle on feed numbers to be up 1%.

Placements in feedlots during November totaled 1.60 million head, down 11 percent from 2014, and 7 percent lower than pre-report estimates. Placements were down 6% in Kansas, 7% in Nebraska, and 18% in Texas. Placements are the lowest for November since the series began in 1996. All weight categories saw declining placement numbers for November 2015, compared to year ago. Even cattle weighing over 800 pounds saw a decrease in placement numbers, although placements are still skewed to the higher weigh category. Placements for cattle weighing under 600 pounds decreased by 15%, cattle weighing 600-699 decreased by 10%, cattle 700-700 decreased by 16%, and cattle weighing over 800 pounds decreased by 1%. Mild weather, high feeder cattle prices and good forage and pasture conditions throughout much of the U.S. continues to allow cattle to stay out of the feedlots longer and the lower finished cattle prices have deterred feedlots from placing cattle. This trend for placing heavier cattle could continue for another couple of months.

November marketings were slightly higher than pre-report estimates. Marketings were at 1.5 million head, up 3.8% over November 2014. There was one more marketing day available in 2015 compared to 2014, which would attribute to greater marketings. The daily average of marketings in November was about 1% lower than that in 2014. Marketings as a percentage of on feed inventory decreased in November, indicating a slight delay in marketings. Carcass weights have decreased slightly though.