Cattle On Feed Report
US - USDA’s August cattle on feed report contained no major surprises as the numbers came in close to that predicted by the pre-release trade estimates. The total number of cattle on feed at the start of August was up 2.4 per cent compared to August 2009, writes Ron Plain and Glenn Grimes.
23 August 2010
2 minute read
Ron Plain
The pre-release survey of forecasts had an average increase of 2.0 per cent. The number of cattle on feed has been above the year-earlier level for the last 3 months. The August inventory is the highest on-feed number for any August since 2007.
USDA said July placements of cattle into large feed yards (over 1,000 head capacity) were 5.9 per cent below July 2009. The average of pre-release trade forecasts was for July placements to be down 7.4 percent. The decrease was due to fairly heavy placements in July 2009. Despite the decrease, July placements were the third highest in the last 7 years.
USDA said marketings of fed cattle from large feed yards during July totaled 1.903 million head, down 1.7 per cent compared to July 2009. The trade forecast July marketings to be down 0.3 per cent. Marketings from large feed yards also were low relative to July steer and heifer slaughter, which was down 0.6 per cent from a year earlier level. There was one fewer slaughter day this July than last. Last month’s marketings were the lowest of any July since USDA started this series in 1996.
The number of cattle placed on feed weighing more than 800 pounds was unchanged from last July. Placements of feeders weighing less than 800 pounds were down 8.5 per cent compared to a year ago. The calculated average weight of cattle placed on feed during July was 0.9 per cent higher than in July 2009.
The average retail price for choice beef during July was $4.444 per pound. That was down 4.7 cents from June and up 26.5 cents from July 2009.
| Cattle on Feed, 1000+ Capacity Feedlots, U.S. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | Percent of | |
| ------- | 1,000 head | -------- | Year Ago | |
| On Feed June 1 | 10,295 | 9752 | 10,070 | 103.3% |
| Placed during June | 1,656 | 1,863 | 1,754 | 94.1% |
| Marketed during June | 2074 | 1,935 | 1,903 | 98.3% |
| Other Disapperance | 45 | 43 | 48 | 111.6% |
| On Feed July 1 | 9869 | 9637 | 9873 | 102.4% |
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