News Update
February 26, 2018
Plenty of Feedlot Cattle to Start 2018
The Jan. 1, 2018, inventory of cattle in feedlots was 11.49 million head, 108.3% of year-earlier levels. This is an increase of 884,000 head compared to Jan. 1, 2017, and is the largest January on-feed total since 2012. For the 12 months of 2017, feedlot placements totaled 23.5 million head, up 1.91 million head (an 8.8% increase) from 2016. Total 2017 marketings increased 1.03 million head year over year, up 4.9%.
December placements were up 0.8% year over year, slightly more than expected. This follows large year-over-year placement increases in September, October and November. December marketings were equal to expectations, down 1.4% from the previous year. December had one less business day compared to a year earlier, thus daily average marketings were still larger year over year as it was every month in 2017. In the last five months of 2017, feedlot placements exceeded marketings by 506,000 head. These additional cattle will be marketed in the first four to six months of 2018.
December feedlot placements consisted of an unusual pattern of weights, with increased year-over-year placements of feeders less than 600 pounds (lb.) and more than 1,000 lb.
Continue reading this Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.
Association Perspective
Many breeds claim they have the best genetics for your cow herd, but none can back that statement up like reliable, registered Angus genetics. Many of you have been breeding Angus for years and already know this, but the Angus breed not only offers lower birth weights during calving, it more importantly offers greater performance and significantly better marbling than other breeds. In addition, the Angus breed is known for creating a superior mother cow. How can we prove this?
These claims are based on real data from the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) and not hype. As you are well aware, Angus is backed by the world’s largest and most reliable genetic evaluation program. Who needs other breeds for added performance when performance Angus bulls already exist that can sire calves that bring, on the average, $7 per hundredweight (cwt.) more than other breeds add?
So where can I find these high-performance Angus bulls? You don’t need to look very far. High-performance bulls are offered at nearly every sale, along with every other type of Angus bull that will fit your operation or management style.
Keep reading this Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.
Cattle on Feed; Weekly Price/Production
The Feb. 1 cattle-on-feed inventory in +1,000-head capacity lots was 11.630 million head, 7.9% higher than a year ago. This is the largest February inventory since 2012 when it was 11.8 million head. The difference of this year to 2012, however, is that there are fewer cattle that have been in inventory for more than 120 days. In February 2012 the +120 day inventory was 3.596 million head compared to 2.984 million head today. The marketing rate today has been faster than it was back then, a function of better demand, allowing feedlots to stay more current. For instance the marketing rate in January 2012 was 14.9% of the total inventory compared to 16.2% today. In addition, the cattle placed on feed during the fall of 2011 were not as light as what we saw in 2017, which means feedlots have a bit more flexibility as to when/how to market their cattle this time around.
The latest report indicated that feedlots placed 2.068 million cattle on feed during January, 87,000 head (+4.4%) more than a year ago.
Read the full report online at www.dailylivestockreport.com.
Registered Dietitians Dissect the Plant-Based Plate
at 2018 Summit
Dietitians Leah McGrath and Amy Myrdal Miller will share what “plant-based” means, how and when the term became popular and how the agricultural community can come together to promote a balanced plate at the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2018 Stakeholders Summit. The event, themed “Protect Your Roots,” will be hosted May 3-4 at the Renaissance Capital View Hotel in Arlington, Va.
McGrath is a retail dietitian with more than 17 years of experience interacting with consumers, as well as grocery buyers. She is also a former Army and public health dietitian and founder of the Facebook and Twitter group, “Build Up Dietitians,” which emphasizes evidenced-based information using the hashtag #stand4science. For the past five years, McGrath has worked to increase her knowledge about agriculture and farming by visiting farms and writing blogs and articles about her experiences to educate consumers and peers.
Myrdal Miller is an award-winning registered dietitian nutritionist, farmer’s daughter, highly regarded public speaker and published author. She is also founder and president of Farmer’s Daughter Consulting Inc., a privately-held agriculture, food and culinary communications firm.
Learn more in the full Alliance news release online.
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