The next regular Cattle on Feed report from USDA comes this Friday Afternoon, April 25th at 2 PM central time. The Executive Director of the Livestock Market Information Center, Jim Robb, sees two percent fewer placements in this report compared to March of 2013- but still the potential for as many or maybe a few more cattle on feed on April first compared to April Fools Day, 2013.
Dr. Robb told Eric Atkinson on Agriculture Today earlier this week that those numbers on feed being about even with a year ago " are not very sustainable given the total pool of cattle is still shrinking in the United States."
Meanwhile, Rich Nelson with Allendale sees higher placements than at this point in 2013- here's Nelson's in advance of the Friday report:
"March Placements are expected to be 3.2% higher than last year. Cattle feeders ended the month with $262 per head profits on outgoing cattle. This was the largest profit since November 2003. This strong incentive for heavy placements was curtailed by weather. Corn averaged $4.85 in Western Kansas in March ($4.53 in February, $7.41 in March 2013). March placements help supply the August through early October slaughter period. From September through March placements have run 5.0% over last year despite limited feeder supplies. This will cause heavy slaughter supplies from late spring through summer. However, the coming feeder deficit may sharply limit summer placements and impact fall/winter slaughter supplies.
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