U.S. Cattle on Feed Update – Mar ’16
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 10.77 million head on March 1, 2016, finishing 0.8% above the previous year. The Mar ’16 U.S. cattle on feed supply was up 82,000 head from March 1st of last year.
Placements in feedlots during Feb ’16 totaled 1.71 million head, up 100,000 head, or 6.4%, from February of last year on a daily average basis. Placements for those weighing 600-699 pounds increased the most YOY, finishing up 9.3%, while placements for those 700-799 pounds increased by 8.5% and placements for those 800 pounds or more increased by 8.6%. Placements for those under 600 pounds remained lower on a YOY basis, finishing down 2.0%. Placements in feedlots declined 4.5% throughout the ’14-’15 production season and are down an additional 2.0% YTD throughout the first five months of the ’15-’16 production season, despite the most recent YOY gain.
After deferred placements of heavier animals during the summer of 2014, weights from Aug ’14 – Feb ’16 indicate a continued trend towards heavier placements. Placements for those weighing 800 pounds or more have increased by 6.9% YOY over the 18 month period.
Feb ’16 cattle placements under 700 pounds increased by 18,000 head, or 3.0%, YOY, finishing higher on a YOY basis for the first time in the past 17 months. 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 remain down an additional 7.2% YOY throughout the first five months of the production season, despite the most recent YOY increase.
Feb ’16 cattle placements 700 pounds or heavier finished up 82,000 head, or 8.6% YOY. 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 up an additional 2.9% YOY throughout the first five months of the production season.
Marketings of fed cattle during Feb ’16 totaled 1.59 million head, up 20,000 head, or 1.3%, on a daily average basis from February of last year. Marketings have increased on a YOY basis over three of the past four months. Other disappearance totaled 58,000 head during Feb ’16, down 4,000 head, or 6.7% YOY on a daily average basis.