Market News & Headlines >> Larger Feb. 1 Feedlot Inventory Expected

USDA is expected to report that January placements of cattle in U.S. feedlots and feedlot marketings were both up significantly from a year earlier, with the Feb. 1 feedlot inventory up moderately, when it releases its monthly Cattle-on-feed report on Friday afternoon. 

Trade estimates of January placements average 111.1% of a year earlier in a range from 106.8-118.2%, while estimates of January feedlot marketings avg. 109.8% in a range from 106.3-111.0%. Pre-report expectations for the Feb. 1 feedlot inventory average 100.7% of a year earlier in a range from 99.8-102.5%. 

At the average of trade estimates, the Feb. 1 feedlot inventory would equal 10.785 million head and would be the largest for the date in four years -- 76,000 head larger than a year earlier and 180,000 larger than a month earlier. 

January feedlot placements at the average of trade estimates would equal 1.977 million head, 198,000 head larger than a year earlier, and would be the largest in 3 years.

January feedlot marketings at the average of trade estimates would equal 1.745 million head, 156,000 larger than a year earlier and would be the largest in 3 years.