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COF report shows more heifers in feedlots

Photo courtesy UNL

Last week’s cattle-on-feed report showed a higher percentage of heifers in the nation’s feedlots.

The number of heifers and heifer calves on feed on April 1st, at 4.2 million, was up 14 percent from a year ago. And USDA livestock analyst Shayle Shagam says heifers were nearly 36 percent of the total feedlot inventory, two percent more than a year ago.

“That percentage of heifers on feed may be reflection of some potential slowing in the expansion of the breeding herd,” Shagam says.

He says there are good reasons why that might be happening.

“Dry conditions and relatively weak cattle prices going forward—which obviously works its way back down the chain to feeder calf prices.”

The prices are now running about 145 dollars a hundredweight, down from 148 a year ago.

“We do expect to see those prices even come down further as we move into the mid part of the year,” Shagam says. “Probably averaging in the high 130’s during the third quarter.”

More reasons why the expansion may be slowing, he says.

Total cattle-on-feed, at 11.7 million head, was the second-highest April 1st number on record.

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