Feedlot Placements Change Timing Of Fed Cattle, Derrell Peel Says

By Derrell Peel

Stronger-than-expected fed cattle prices so far this year have encouraged feedlots to market cattle aggressively and to place more cattle on feed. In the most recent USDA Cattle on Feed report February placements were up 15 percent from last year’s low February placement total. This placement total was up one percent from the previous five-year average February placements. Feedlots have placed more cattle four of the past five months, resulting in nearly 600,000 more head of cattle placed compared to the same period one year ago.

Relatively large placements in January and February have pushed the March 1 feedlot inventory to an unusual March seasonal peak. The normal March increase in feedlot marketings and likely smaller year over year March placements are almost sure to result in a lower April 1 feedlot inventory. In 14 of the last 17 years, the seasonal peak in feedlot inventories has occurred in December, once in January and twice in February but never in the history of the current cattle on feed data has the seasonal peak occurred in March.  

This late peak in feedlot inventories could suggest either a late peak in marketings or some bunching of cattle into the seasonal peak of marketings and slaughter. It depends on the placement weight distribution along with weather and market factors that may change the timing. In the past, peak marketings have occurred in June nine of the past 18 years; four times in May and five times in July.

Based on the placement weights, it does not appear that the late March peak in feedlot inventories will result in a late peak in marketings. In fact, my current projections suggest that May marketings will be seasonally strong and may be as large or larger than June marketings. It should be noted over half of the large increase in February placements were cattle under 700 pounds that will not be marketed until late summer.