USDA Reports
United States Cattle on Feed Down 1 Percent
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 9.8 million head on September 1, 2014. The inventory was 1 percent below September 1, 2013.
Placements in feedlots during August totaled 1.72 million, 3 percent below 2013. Net placements were 1.65 million head. During August, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 410,000, 600-699 pounds were 280,000, 700-799 pounds were 395,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 635,000. For the month of August placements are the lowest since the series began in 1996.
Marketings of fed cattle during August totaled 1.69 million, 10 percent below 2013. August marketings are the lowest since the series began in 1996.
Other disappearance totaled 66,000 during August, 32 percent above 2013.
Source: USDA
Ron Plain's Cattle Outlook
http://www.farms.com/ExpertsCommentary/cattle-outlook-fed-cattle-prices-dropped-81889.aspx