U.S. Cattle on Feed Update – May ’15
According to USDA, cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.6 million head on May 1, 2015. The May ’15 U.S. cattle on feed supply was up 86,000 head, or 0.8%, from May 1st of last year.
Placements in feedlots during Apr ’15 totaled 1.55 million head, down 75,000 head, or 4.6%, from April of last year. Placements for those weighing 800 pounds or more increased 6.7% YOY while placements for those weighing 700-799 pounds declined 11.5% YOY, placements for those weighing 600-699 pounds declined 4.0% YOY and placements for those under 600 pounds declined by 15.8% YOY.
After deferred placements of heavier animals in the summer months, weights in Aug ’14 – Mar ’15 indicate a continued trend towards heavier placements relative to last year. Placements for those weighing 800 pounds or more have increased by 7.1% YOY over the nine month period.
Apr ’15 cattle placements under 700 pounds declined by 70,000 head, or 11.1%, YOY. Cattle placements under 700 pounds were generally higher throughout the ’13-’14 production season, finishing up 4.2% YOY, however ’14-’15 placements under 700 pounds have declined 10.3% YTD through the first seven month of the production season.
Apr ’15 cattle placements 700 pounds or heavier also declined YOY, finishing down 5,000 head, or 0.5%. Cattle placements 700 pounds or heavier finished the ’13-’14 production season down 3.3% after declining 9.0% over the second half of the production season, but remain up 0.4% YTD through the first seven months of the ’14-’15 production season.
Marketings of fed cattle during Apr ’15 totaled 1.64 million head, down 139,000 head, or 7.8%, from April of 2014. Apr ’15 marketings of fed cattle were the lowest on record for the month of April. Marketings have declined YOY for 16 consecutive months, with total marketings down 5.3% over the period. Other disappearance totaled 66,000 head during Apr ’15, down 17,000 head, or 20.5% YOY.
Placements in feedlots during Apr ’15 totaled 1.55 million head, down 75,000 head, or 4.6%, from April of last year. Placements for those weighing 800 pounds or more increased 6.7% YOY while placements for those weighing 700-799 pounds declined 11.5% YOY, placements for those weighing 600-699 pounds declined 4.0% YOY and placements for those under 600 pounds declined by 15.8% YOY.
After deferred placements of heavier animals in the summer months, weights in Aug ’14 – Mar ’15 indicate a continued trend towards heavier placements relative to last year. Placements for those weighing 800 pounds or more have increased by 7.1% YOY over the nine month period.
Apr ’15 cattle placements under 700 pounds declined by 70,000 head, or 11.1%, YOY. Cattle placements under 700 pounds were generally higher throughout the ’13-’14 production season, finishing up 4.2% YOY, however ’14-’15 placements under 700 pounds have declined 10.3% YTD through the first seven month of the production season.
Apr ’15 cattle placements 700 pounds or heavier also declined YOY, finishing down 5,000 head, or 0.5%. Cattle placements 700 pounds or heavier finished the ’13-’14 production season down 3.3% after declining 9.0% over the second half of the production season, but remain up 0.4% YTD through the first seven months of the ’14-’15 production season.
Marketings of fed cattle during Apr ’15 totaled 1.64 million head, down 139,000 head, or 7.8%, from April of 2014. Apr ’15 marketings of fed cattle were the lowest on record for the month of April. Marketings have declined YOY for 16 consecutive months, with total marketings down 5.3% over the period. Other disappearance totaled 66,000 head during Apr ’15, down 17,000 head, or 20.5% YOY.