News

December placements down 2 percent

In the first look at cattle numbers in the US since the government shutdown, the USDA says placements into feedlots during December were down 2 percent on the year.  Most of the cattle weighed 600 to 699 pounds and will be marketed in the last half of 2019. 

Total marketings were 1 percent below December 2017. 

The total number of cattle on feed January 1 was up 2 percent on the year.  Heifers made up 38 percent of the inventory, which is a jump of 6 percent on the year.  That could indicate the expansion rate of the herd is beginning to slow. 

Other disapperances were up 1 percent on the year.   

The numbers look mostly neutral for cash business. 

The next report comes out March 8^th.