USDA Livestock Flash   03/22 14:07

                                             USDA    Pre-report Estimates
                                             Actual      Avg     Low    High
On feed March 1                                 101.0    99.7    99.0   100.6
On feed February 1                              100.0
Placed on feed during February                  102.0    96.0    92.2   101.5
Fed cattle marketed during February             100.0   100.8    99.7   101.3

By DTN Staff

OMAHA (DTN) -- Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the 
United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 
11.796 million head on Feb. 1, 2019. The inventory was 1% above Feb. 1, 
2018, USDA reported.

Placements in feedlots during January totaled 1.86 million head, 2% below 
2018. During January, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 
600 pounds were 340,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 345,000 head, 700-799 
pounds were 530,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 442,000 head, 900-999 pounds 
were 135,000 head and 1,000 pounds and greater were 65,000 head.

Marketings of fed cattle during January totaled 1.683 million head, 0% 
below 2018.

Other disappearance totaled 66,000 head during December, 16% above 2018.

"The March 1 Cattle on Feed report appears to be generally bearish based on 
stronger-than-expected cattle placement through February," said DTN Analyst 
Rick 
Kment. "Total feeder cattle placements was 102% of 2018 levels with 1.857 
million 
cattle placed in feed yards. This placement is 6% over early report 
expectations 
and just slightly above the top end of the market range. Total cattle on feed 
came in 1.3% above expectations with a total on feed level of 101% year-ago 
levels. 

"The market impact of the report may not be fully seen due to the wide market 
shifts seen through the week and uncertainty over how cattle inventory will 
change through the rest of the spring due to recent winter storms and floods."

To view the full Cattle on Feed report, visit https://www.nass.usda.gov/