Market News & Headlines >> September Feedlot Placements, Marketings Seen Up

Friday’s USDA Cattle-on-Feed report is expected to show that feedlot placements were above a year earlier for the eight straight month in September, while fed cattle marketings were larger for the second month in a row.

Pre-report trade estimates of September feedlot placements average 103.6% of a year earlier in a range from 97.4%-108.2%. At the average of trade estimates, monthly placements would total 2.011 million head, up 70,000 head from a year earlier. 

Trade expectations for September feedlot marketings average 106.2% of a year earlier in a range from 103.2-108.8%. At the average of expectations, September marketings would total 1.744 million head, up 102,000 from a year earlier. 

Trade expectations for the Oct. 1 feedlot inventory average 101.3% of a year earlier in a range from 100.2%-102.1%. If the feedlot inventory were to come in at the average of trade estimates, it would total 10.358 million head, up 130,000 head from a year earlier and the largest for the date in four years.