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Western South Dakota's Only Ranch Station
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The USDA’s recent report released on Friday, August 18, 2023, shared some interesting insights into the cattle market. Unlike the past few months, July saw an 8.3% decline in cattle placements, breaking a two-month trend. This drop places the annual number at 2.3% low the previous year. This change fits more clearly […]
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The monthly Cattle on Feed (COF) report was released Friday, March 17, 2023 with few surprises. On feed numbers March 1 were 96% of last year with placements falling to 93% of last year and marketings at 95% of last year. This fell in line with pre-release guesses. Regional placements in February […]
STURGIS, SD – Friday’s (Nov. 18) Cattle on Feed report exceeded expectations across the board. Total on-feed and placement numbers were two percent lower. But the big surprise were placements, down 6% at 2.11 million head, the lowest placement figure the COF report has seen for October since the series began in 1996. Add the […]
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Drought is playing a significant role in the cattle cycle. Two years of drought have deteriorated pasture and forage conditions, and the pastureland condition index for 2022 is off to its worst start for the grazing season since the series began in 1995. This is pushing calves into the feedlots at a […]
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ahead of the February Cattle on Feed report, cash fed cattle traded steady to mostly $1 higher, despite the volatility created mid-week by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to DTN Livestock Analyst ShayLe Stewart, “Given the political circumstances of the world as Russia blasts war on Ukraine, it’s likely that Friday’s […]
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The USDA says there were more cattle placed into U.S. feed lots in December 2021 than any other December on record. Increased placements are tied to heavier marketings last year, poor forage conditions, and high hay prices in some of the major feeding areas. December totals of 1.963 million head was 6% […]
WASHINGTON, DC – The USDA’s latest Cattle on Feed report had placements in May at the low-end of pre-report estimates. That, coupled with continued drought in parts of the country, could translate to higher cattle prices…eventually. Scott Brown is a livestock economist at the University of Missouri. He observes that placements were down, suggesting there […]
WASHINGTON, DC – USDA’s latest Cattle on Feed report, released May 21, shows the number of animals on feed as of May 1 is 4.7% above year-ago levels. It is important to remember that due to COVID-19 disruptions last year, typical year-over-year comparisons need to be contextualized. May Cattle on Feed Report The report showed […]
USDA – 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 March 1, 2021. The inventory was 2 percent above March 1, 2020. After strong impacts from the pandemic last spring, the number of cattle on feed […]
UPDATED 3/24/21 WASHINGTON, DC – 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 March 1, 2021. The inventory was 2 percent above March 1, 2020. This is the second highest March 1 inventory since the series […]
