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 8th.
Continue reading December placements down 2 percent at Brownfield Ag News.
