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U.S. cattle on feed up 1%

USDA’s most recent set of cattle on feed numbers showed drops in placements and marketings, against a slightly larger on feed figure.

During November, placements on feed were 1.792 million head, 4% less than in November 2013, and the second lowest for the month since the series of reports started in 1996. By weight, placements of cattle weighing less than 600 pounds were 550,000 head and the 600 to 699 pound placements were 440,000 head, while 700 to 799 pound placements were 362,000 head and placements of cattle weighing more than 800 pounds were 440,000 head.

Marketings were the lowest all-time for November at 1.475 million head, a year to year decline of 11%.

The total number of cattle on feed in the U.S. on December 1 was 10.876 million head, up 1% on the year, giving an indication of just how much tighter supplies were a year ago. There was one fewer business day in November 2014 than there was in November 2013.

Other disappearances were 74,000 head, 9% higher than a year ago.