U.S. Cattle on Feed Update – Apr ’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 April 1, 2015. The Apr ’15 U.S. cattle on feed supply was up 5,000 head from April 1st of last year.
Placements in feedlots during Mar ’15 totaled 1.81 million head, up 0.4%, or 8,000 head from March of last year. Placements for those weighing 800 pounds or more increased 16.1% YOY while placements for those weighing 700-799 pounds declined 3.6% YOY, placements for those weighing 600-699 pounds declined 5.2% YOY and placements for those under 600 pounds declined by 14.1% 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 7.2% YOY over the eight month period.
Mar ’15 cattle placements under 700 pounds declined 10.5% 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 10.2% YTD through the first half of the production season.
Mar ’15 cattle placements 700 pounds or heavier increased YOY for the second consecutive month, finishing 7.6% higher. The 7.6% YOY increase in cattle placements 700 pounds or heavier was the largest experienced in over a year. 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 are up 0.6% YTD through the first half of the ’14-’15 production season.
Marketings of fed cattle during Mar ’15 totaled 1.63 million head, down 1.7%, or 29,000 head, from March of 2014. Marketings of fed cattle have declined YOY for 15 consecutive months, with total marketings down 5.1% over the period. Other disappearance totaled 69,000 head during Mar ’15, up 6.2% YOY.
Placements in feedlots during Mar ’15 totaled 1.81 million head, up 0.4%, or 8,000 head from March of last year. Placements for those weighing 800 pounds or more increased 16.1% YOY while placements for those weighing 700-799 pounds declined 3.6% YOY, placements for those weighing 600-699 pounds declined 5.2% YOY and placements for those under 600 pounds declined by 14.1% 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 7.2% YOY over the eight month period.
Mar ’15 cattle placements under 700 pounds declined 10.5% 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 10.2% YTD through the first half of the production season.
Mar ’15 cattle placements 700 pounds or heavier increased YOY for the second consecutive month, finishing 7.6% higher. The 7.6% YOY increase in cattle placements 700 pounds or heavier was the largest experienced in over a year. 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 are up 0.6% YTD through the first half of the ’14-’15 production season.
Marketings of fed cattle during Mar ’15 totaled 1.63 million head, down 1.7%, or 29,000 head, from March of 2014. Marketings of fed cattle have declined YOY for 15 consecutive months, with total marketings down 5.1% over the period. Other disappearance totaled 69,000 head during Mar ’15, up 6.2% YOY.