U.S. Cattle on Feed Update – Jan ’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 10.57 million head on January 1, 2016, finishing slightly below the previous year. The Jan ’16 U.S. cattle on feed supply was down 53,000 head, or 0.5%, from January 1st of last year.
The cattle on feed inventory included 7.16 million steers and steer calves, up 3.1% from 2015 levels, and 3.41 heifers and heifer calves, down 7.3% from the previous year.
Placements in feedlots during Dec ’15 totaled 1.53 million head, down 12,000 head, or 0.8%, from December of last year and a 17 year low for the month of December. Placements for those weighing 700-799 pounds and 800 pounds or more increased by 6.9% and 10.0% YOY, respectively, however placements for those weighing 600-699 pounds declined 2.7% YOY and placements for those under 600 pounds declined 14.8% YOY. Placements in feedlots declined 4.5% throughout the ’14-’15 production season and are down an additional 5.0% YTD throughout the first quarter of the ’15-’16 production season.
After deferred placements of heavier animals last summer, weights from Aug ’14 – Dec ’15 indicate a continued trend towards heavier placements. Placements for those weighing 800 pounds or more have increased by 7.1% YOY over the 17 month period.
Dec ’15 cattle placements under 700 pounds declined by 75,000 head, or 9.3%, YOY to the lowest level on record for the month of December. 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 9.6% YOY throughout the first quarter of the production season.
Dec ’15 cattle placements 700 pounds or heavier finished up 63,000 head, or 8.6%, YOY to a five year high for the month of December. 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 0.4% YOY throughout the first quarter of the production season.
Marketings of fed cattle during Dec ’15 totaled 1.67 million head, up 19,000 head, or 1.1%, from December of last year. Marketings had declined YOY for 22 consecutive months prior to increasing YOY over the two most recent data points. Other disappearance totaled 78,000 head during Dec ’15, up 6,000 head, or 8.3% YOY.
The cattle on feed inventory included 7.16 million steers and steer calves, up 3.1% from 2015 levels, and 3.41 heifers and heifer calves, down 7.3% from the previous year.
Placements in feedlots during Dec ’15 totaled 1.53 million head, down 12,000 head, or 0.8%, from December of last year and a 17 year low for the month of December. Placements for those weighing 700-799 pounds and 800 pounds or more increased by 6.9% and 10.0% YOY, respectively, however placements for those weighing 600-699 pounds declined 2.7% YOY and placements for those under 600 pounds declined 14.8% YOY. Placements in feedlots declined 4.5% throughout the ’14-’15 production season and are down an additional 5.0% YTD throughout the first quarter of the ’15-’16 production season.
After deferred placements of heavier animals last summer, weights from Aug ’14 – Dec ’15 indicate a continued trend towards heavier placements. Placements for those weighing 800 pounds or more have increased by 7.1% YOY over the 17 month period.
Dec ’15 cattle placements under 700 pounds declined by 75,000 head, or 9.3%, YOY to the lowest level on record for the month of December. 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 9.6% YOY throughout the first quarter of the production season.
Dec ’15 cattle placements 700 pounds or heavier finished up 63,000 head, or 8.6%, YOY to a five year high for the month of December. 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 0.4% YOY throughout the first quarter of the production season.
Marketings of fed cattle during Dec ’15 totaled 1.67 million head, up 19,000 head, or 1.1%, from December of last year. Marketings had declined YOY for 22 consecutive months prior to increasing YOY over the two most recent data points. Other disappearance totaled 78,000 head during Dec ’15, up 6,000 head, or 8.3% YOY.