News
Cattle placements, marketings up sharply on year
The USDA says cattle placements and marketings during April 2021 were up sharply from April 2020 levels, which were impacted by the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Placements of cattle into U.S. feedlots during April were up 27% on the year at 1.821 million head, with about half of that cattle weighing between 700 and 900 pounds. That is also a little bit below April 2019, reflecting the smaller 2020 calf crop.
By weight, April 2021 placements on cattle weighing less than 600 pounds were 380,000 head, placements of cattle weighing 600 to 699 pounds were 250,000 head, and 700 to 799 pound placements were 420,000 head, while 800 to 899 pound placements were 481,000 head, 900 to 999 pound placements were 220,000 head, and placements of cattle weighing 1,000 pounds and heavier were 70,000 head.
Marketings for April were 1.938 million head, a jump of 33% from a year ago and slightly larger than two years ago.
The total number of cattle on feed in the U.S. on May 1st 2020 was 11.725 million head, 5% above last year and the second highest May 1st inventory in the past 25 years. The number of cattle on feed on May 1st, 2019 was just over 11.8 million head.
When compared to the 2019 numbers, this report looks neutral to bullish because of tighter numbers, in addition to current strong beef demand.
COMPARISONS FOR BROWNFIELD STATES
Iowa: On feed: 630,000 head, up 10,000 from 2020 but down 50,000 from 2019; Placements: 101,000 head, 39,000 higher than a year ago and 16,000 higher than two years ago; Marketings: 98,000 head, 30,000 more than last year but 15,000 less than the year before that
Minnesota: On feed: 110,000 head, down 20,000 from 2020 and 30,000 from 2019; Placements: 13,000 head, unchanged from a year ago and up 2,000 from two years ago; Marketings: 17,000 head, 5,000 more than last year but 3,000 less than the year before that
Nebraska: On feed: 2.53 million head, up 16,000 from 2020 but down 30,000 from 2019; Placements: 425,000 head, 115,000 higher than a year ago but 10,000 lower than two years ago; Marketings: 465,000 head, 150,000 more than last year and 45,000 above the year before that
South Dakota: On feed: 235,000 head, up 30,000 from 2020 but down 10,000 from 2019; Placements: 36,000 head, 13,000 higher than a year ago and 9,000 higher than two years ago; Marketings: 38,000 head, 8,000 more than both last year and the year before that
