Cattle on Feed Preview     09/19  09:25

By ShayLe Stewart
DTN Livestock Analyst

                      USDA Actual   Average Estimate       Range
On Feed Sept. 1                           99.4%      98.5-100.0%
Placed in August                          94.5%       88.9-97.8%
Marketed in August                        98.4%       97.6-98.8%

With all projected figures remaining under the 100% threshold, 
cattlemen expect a bullish Cattle on Feed Report Friday. With 
the biggest spread being on the placement projection, there is 
little consensus on how many cattle have been transported to 
feedlots in September. Largely, this makes sense with cattlemen 
being able to hold cattle on grass pastures longer this year. 
And with a weaker feeder cattle market in the last month, most 
aren't eager to send stock to the feedlots just yet. However, 
this can be seen as advantageous: With the fall run beginning in 
less than a month, feedlots will have plenty of room to welcome 
new pens of cattle in. 

Overall, the COF report should have little impact on the market 
this month if estimated figures hold true. 

The USDA Cattle on Feed report is scheduled for release at 2 
p.m. CDT on Friday, Sept. 20.

ShayLe Stewart can be reached at shayle.stewart@dtn.com