Cattle on Feed Report Preview 04/18 11:51

April 1 Cattle on Feed Report Expected To Be Neutral to Market

By ShayLe Stewart
DTN Livestock Analyst

USDA Actual Average Estimate Range
On Feed April 1 102.0% 101.6-102.5%
Placed in March 92.8% 90.0-94.7%
Marketed in March 89.0% 86.5-91.3%

OMAHA (DTN) -- Friday's April 1 USDA Cattle on Feed report isn't
expected to ruffle the market's feathers and send the complex
tumbling lower. However, it is unnerving to note the increase in
total on-feed numbers amid weaker marketings as, seasonally,
this can become problematic for the industry, as showlists
naturally grow larger over the summer.

The expected 8.2% decrease in placements comes as no surprise,
as placements were sharply higher in February following the
severe snowstorms that affected the entire country in January.
It will likely become a trend over the next couple of months
that placements will be reported lower, as feedlots have
procured calves/feeders earlier this year because they knew that
supplies would be low and prices would likely be higher the
closer time got to turn-out season.

Friday's April 1 Cattle on Feed report isn't expected to have a
significant effect on the spot market.

**

USDA will release its April 1 Cattle on Feed report at 2 p.m.
CDT on Friday.