Cattle On Feed Reports Shows Healthy Numbers

The USDA reported some healthy numbers, once again, in the most recent Cattle on Feed report.  USDA Livestock Analyst Shayle Shagam said, first off feedlots brought in just over two million head during August, 7% more than August 2017.

"We do expect to see as things get cooler, producers start sending more cattle into feedlots,” Shagam noted, “But this was a rather large number."

And, with August marketing at less than two million head, it left feedlots at a capacity of one thousand head or more on September first, with 11.1 million head a 6% year over year increase.

"The largest for September 1st since the survey began in 1996."

Shagam said that implies a lot of beef hitting the market in six months or so, but prices are expected to be fairly strong.  And exports are also expected to be healthy, with beef shipped overseas expected to increase 11% year over year.  And we could see those export numbers increase another 3% in 2019.

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