U.S. Cattle on Feed Update – Dec ’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 10.8 million head on December 1, 2015, finishing slightly below the previous year. The Dec ’15 U.S. cattle on feed supply was down 22,000 head, or 0.2%, from December 1st of last year.
Placements in feedlots during Nov ’15 totaled 1.60 million head, down 193,000 head, or 10.8%, from November of last year and the lowest on record for the month of November. Placements for those weighing 800 pounds or more declined just 1.1% YOY however placements for those weighing 700-799 pounds declined 16.0% YOY, placements for those weighing 600-699 pounds declined 10.1% YOY and placements for those under 600 pounds declined 15.3% YOY. Placements in feedlots declined 4.5% throughout the ’14-’15 production season and are down an additional 6.7% YTD throughout the first two months of the ’15-’16 production season.
After deferred placements of heavier animals last summer, weights from Aug ’14 – Nov ’15 indicate a continued trend towards heavier placements. Placements for those weighing 800 pounds or more have increased by 6.9% YOY over the 16 month period.
Nov ’15 cattle placements under 700 pounds declined by 193,000 head, or 13.0%, YOY to the lowest level on record for the month of November. Cattle placements under 700 pounds were generally higher throughout the ’13-’14 production season, finishing up 4.7% YOY, however ’14-’15 placements under 700 pounds finished down 11.1% YOY to the lowest annual figure on record. ’15-’16 YTD placements under 700 pounds are down an additional 9.8% YOY throughout the first two months of the production season.
Nov ’15 cattle placements 700 pounds or heavier finished down 64,000 head, or 8.0%, YOY to a ten year low for the month of November. 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 gained back a portion of the previous year declines throughout the ’14-’15 production season, finishing up 1.0% YOY. ’15-’16 YTD placements 700 pounds or heavier are down 3.0% YOY throughout the first two months of the production season.
Marketings of fed cattle during Nov ’15 totaled 1.53 million head, up 57,000 head, or 3.9%, from November of last year. Marketings had declined YOY for 22 consecutive months prior to the most recent YOY gain, with total marketings down 5.2% over the period. Other disappearance totaled 74,000 head during Nov ’15, even with the previous year.
Placements in feedlots during Nov ’15 totaled 1.60 million head, down 193,000 head, or 10.8%, from November of last year and the lowest on record for the month of November. Placements for those weighing 800 pounds or more declined just 1.1% YOY however placements for those weighing 700-799 pounds declined 16.0% YOY, placements for those weighing 600-699 pounds declined 10.1% YOY and placements for those under 600 pounds declined 15.3% YOY. Placements in feedlots declined 4.5% throughout the ’14-’15 production season and are down an additional 6.7% YTD throughout the first two months of the ’15-’16 production season.
After deferred placements of heavier animals last summer, weights from Aug ’14 – Nov ’15 indicate a continued trend towards heavier placements. Placements for those weighing 800 pounds or more have increased by 6.9% YOY over the 16 month period.
Nov ’15 cattle placements under 700 pounds declined by 193,000 head, or 13.0%, YOY to the lowest level on record for the month of November. Cattle placements under 700 pounds were generally higher throughout the ’13-’14 production season, finishing up 4.7% YOY, however ’14-’15 placements under 700 pounds finished down 11.1% YOY to the lowest annual figure on record. ’15-’16 YTD placements under 700 pounds are down an additional 9.8% YOY throughout the first two months of the production season.
Nov ’15 cattle placements 700 pounds or heavier finished down 64,000 head, or 8.0%, YOY to a ten year low for the month of November. 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 gained back a portion of the previous year declines throughout the ’14-’15 production season, finishing up 1.0% YOY. ’15-’16 YTD placements 700 pounds or heavier are down 3.0% YOY throughout the first two months of the production season.
Marketings of fed cattle during Nov ’15 totaled 1.53 million head, up 57,000 head, or 3.9%, from November of last year. Marketings had declined YOY for 22 consecutive months prior to the most recent YOY gain, with total marketings down 5.2% over the period. Other disappearance totaled 74,000 head during Nov ’15, even with the previous year.