December's Cattle on Feed Report

With an overview of last week's monthly USDA Cattle on Feed report, here is USDA Livestock Analyst Shayle Shagam

Shagam: "Producers placed just under 1.8 million head of cattle during December which was about 18 percent above a year ago. Feedlot operators marketed about 1.8 million head of cattle during December which was 7 percent above a year ago. However, there was one less slaughter day during December which when you factor that in leaves us with just under 12 percent increase in feedlot marketings during December. The number of cattle on feed on January first was 10.6 million head which was just fractionally above January first of 2016."

In Idaho, the number of cattle on feed was 260,000 head, which remained the same as than the previous month and 8 percent higher than a year ago. An estimated 38,000 head were placed on feed which was 25 percent lower than the previous month and 12 percent lower than a year ago.

In Washington, the number of cattle on feed was at 185,000 head which was 5 percent lower as the previous month, as well as 5 percent lower than a year ago. An estimated 32,000 head were placed on feed down 22 percent from the previous month, and 16 percent lower than a year ago.

In Colorado, the number of cattle on feed in feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 head or greater was estimated at 900,000 head. That was the 1 percent lower than the previous month's inventory, and 3 percent higher than a year ago. Placements were 130,000 head which was 7 percent lower than the previous month, but 13 percent higher as a year ago.