Oct. 27, 2020
Cattle placements, marketing rise as season approaches peak
By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast facts
- Cattle industry digging out from pandemic disruptions
- Marketings, placements rise above year-ago figures
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The cattle industry seems to be shrugging off some of the disruptions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic with cattle placements and marketings on an upward swing as the industry approaches its seasonal peak, according to October’s Cattle on Feed report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Feedlot placements typically peak in October. October placements will be described in the November Cattle on Feed report.
September’s feedlot placements totaled 2.23 million head, 6 percent above the year-ago placements.
“September marks the fourth consecutive month of feedlot placements above year-ago levels,” James Mitchell, assistant professor and agricultural economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said. However, since the beginning of 2020, “total placements through September were 3 percent below 2019 levels for the same period.”
Feedlot placements were 11.72 million head as of Oct. 1, which was 4 percent above a year ago. Mitchell said that October marked the third consecutive month of “on feed” inventories above year-ago levels.
September marketings of cattle were 6 percent above a year ago, although Mitchell noted that September 2020 had one more business day than September 2019.
One other factor weighing on the industry is drought in the southern plains.
“The drought will likely play a role in determining the destination of calves sold this fall, specifically, the number of lightweight feeders placed in feedlots this fall relative to those going to a winter backgrounding or grazing program,” Mitchell said.
He said if weather undermines growth of winter grazing, “we might see impacts on stocker cattle demand, which places downward pressure on regional feeder calf prices.
“If there is not adequate wheat pasture, calves would potentially be placed directly in a feedlot or an alternate backgrounding program,” Mitchell said.
On a brighter note, “we are expected to see some much-needed moisture this week in the southern plains, and I encourage producers to continue to monitor price-weight relationships in market reports as an indicator for winter grazing prospects,” he said.
Mitchell said that “as of Oct.19, 35 percent of pasture was in poor or very poor condition in the southern plains.”
Mitchell’s analysis is part of an ongoing project describing the continued impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nation’s economy. His analysis may be found at https://bit.ly/3ouTpOA.
To learn more about extension and research programs in Arkansas, visit https://uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk, @uaex_edu or @ArkAgResearch.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Chief Communications Officer
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
mhightower@uada.edu
501-671-2006