WASHINGTON, DC – Friday’s Cattle on Feed report showed that more feeders were placed in feedlots than initially assumed. Trade analysts say a lot of feeders were placed in feedlots early this year due to producers being tired of the market’s turmoil.
December’s COF report was bearish with placements 4% over the pre-release guesses. COF placement reports are estimates pulled from an examination of auction receipts, video sales, some direct reports and outright fill in guesses. They reflect trends although they may not be accurate. Marketing numbers should be accurate because they are compiled from daily slaughter reports.
Placements of under 600# cattle was 113% of prior year. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 12.0 million head on Dec. 1, 2019. The inventory was 2% above Dec. 1, 2018, USDA NASS reported on Friday.
Placements in feedlots during November totaled 2.09 million head, 5% above 2018. Net placements were 2.03 million head. During November, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 620,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 500,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 423,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 310,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 130,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 110,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during November totaled 1.81 million head, 3% below 2018.
Other disappearance totaled 65,000 head during November, 19% below 2018.
Minnesota Cattle on Feed down 20,000 head
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Minnesota for feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 140,000 head on December 1, 2019, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This is up 10,000 head from last month but down 20,000 head from last year.
Placements during November totaled 25,000 head, down 14,000 head from October but unchanged from last year. Marketings for November were 14,000 head, up 1,000 head from October but unchanged from last year. Other disappearance totaled 1,000 head.
Iowa Cattle on Feed down 1 percent
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 690,000 head on December 1, 2019, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This was up 5 percent from November 1, 2019, but down 1 percent from December 1, 2018. Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head had 580,000 head on feed, up 9 percent from last month but unchanged from last year. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in all Iowa feedlots totaled 1,270,000 head, up 7 percent from last month but down 1 percent from last year.
Placements of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during November totaled 110,000 head, down 4 percent from October but up 4 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head placed 120,000 head, down 2 percent from October but up 20 percent from last year. Placements for all feedlots in Iowa totaled 230,000 head, down 3 percent from October but up 12 percent from last year.
Marketings of fed cattle from Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during November totaled 76,000 head, down 17 percent from October and down 27 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head marketed 66,000 head, down 1 percent from October but up 14 percent from last year. Marketings for all feedlots in Iowa were 142,000 head, down 11 percent from October and down 12 percent from last year. Other disappearance from all feedlots in Iowa totaled 8,000 head.
Note: This report is a combination of estimates from the USDA Cattle on Feed survey for Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head and the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship-funded Cattle on Feed survey for Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head.
Nebraska cattle on feed down 5 percent
Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.48 million cattle on feed on December 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was down 5 percent from last year.
Placements during November totaled 520,000 head, unchanged from 2018.
Fed cattle marketings for the month of November totaled 475,000 head, down 3 percent from last year.
Other disappearance during November totaled 15,000 head, down 5,000 head from last year.
Colorado Cattle On Feed up 9 percent
The number of cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Colorado feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 head or larger was estimated at 1,100,000 head as of December 1, 2019. The latest inventory was 3 percent above last month’s inventory and 9 percent above the December 1, 2018 inventory.
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Texas feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 2.93 million head on December 1, 2019, up 9 percent from a year ago. Producers placed 465 thousand head in commercial feedlots during November, up 3 percent from a year ago. Texas commercial feeders marketed 390 thousand head during November, down 9 percent from 2018.
On December 1, there were 2.57 million head of cattle and calves on feed in the Northern High Plains, 88 percent of the state’s total. The number on feed across the area was up 9 percent from last year and up 2 percent from the November 1 total. November placements in the Northern High Plains totaled 419 thousand head, down 10 percent from the October total. Marketings were down 11 percent from last month at 349 thousand head.
Oklahoma Cattle on Feed unchanged from year ago
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Oklahoma feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 325 thousand head on December 1, 2019, unchanged from a year ago. Producers placed 58 thousand head in commercial feedlots during November, up 12 percent from a year ago. Oklahoma commercial feeders marketed 57 thousand head during November, up 14 percent from 2018. Other disappearance during November totaled 1 thousand head, down 1,000 head from a year ago.
Kansas Cattle On Feed up 3 percent
Kansas feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.43 million cattle on feed on December 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was up 3 percent from last year.
Placements during November totaled 415,000 head, up 4 percent from 2018.
Fed cattle marketings for the month of November totaled 395,000 head, up 3 percent from last year.
Other disappearance during November totaled 10,000 head, down 5,000 head from last year.
