COF Steady, Placements Down 7%, Cattle Prices Higher

Cattle on feed June 1, 2021, totaled 11.7 million head, according to USDA, up slightly from June 2020, and the second highest June 1 inventory since the series began in 1996.

Placements in feedlots during May totaled 1.91 million head, 7% below 2020. Net placements were 1.84 million head. During May, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 355,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 255,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 470,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 501,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 235,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 95,000 head.

Marketings of fed cattle during May totaled 1.87 million head, 23% higher than the pandemic discrupted May 2020 totals. Other disappearance totaled 67,000 head during May, 2% above 2020.

Cash cattle trade was called light in the North, mostly at $125 to $126 live and $197 dressed, $1 to $2 higher than last week. Trade in the South was called very light at mostly $122, steady with the previous week.