March Cattle on Feed Report
US - Cattle on feed inventories as of March 1 are up 2% from a year ago but are still down from two years ago, according to Shane Ellis.Currently there are 11.85 million cattle on feed in feedlots over 1000 hd. Figure 1 graphs monthly cattle on feed inventories from 2006 to present. Although feed prices are above those of even a year ago, cattle on feed numbers remain relatively constant with past years. Marketings and placements during February were up 4% from 2007.
Table 1. US Cattle on Feed, March 2008
In Iowa, cattle feedlot inventories remain well above those of previous years. Figure 2 illustrates the state’s year over year growth in cattle feeding. The availability of distiller co-product feeds is helping encourage cattle feeding in the state, but we are still a long way from becoming the number one cattle finishing location. However, 2008 inventories will probably trend above those of previous year for most of the year.