U.S. Cattle on Feed Up 2 Percent

The USDA Cattle on Feed Report had placements in feedlots during the month of April totaled 1.85 million head, 11 percent above a year ago and well above what most analysts had been estimating. USDA Livestock Analyst Shayle Shagam discusses the i 3 percent increase from a year ago's marketing of fed cattle.

Shagam: "I think that reflects the desire on the part of feedlot operators to move those animals as quickly as possible. What you have is a fairly wide spread between what current cash prices are and what the future markets is telling you the prices in the next couple of months are going be. I think that has really provided incentives for feed lot operators to move those animals through their feedlots as rapidly as possible."

In Idaho, cattle placed on feed was up 67 percent from the previous year, but down 26 percent from the previous month. Number of cattle marketed was at 24,000 head which was 29 percent below the previous month but 4 percent ahead of a year ago.

In Washington, the number of cattle placed on feed was 6 percent higher than last year, but 16 percent lower than the previous month. Marketed numbers were down, it was 3 percent below the previous month and 12 percent below a year ago.

In Colorado, the number of cattle placed on feed in feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 head or great was estimated at 155,000 head which was 24 percent below the previous month's inventory and 7 percent above a year ago. Marketing wise 125,000 head of fed cattle were marketed during April which was 26 percent below previous month and 7 percent below a year ago.