Are beef cattle producers beginning to hold back heifers for breeding? Or is the United States beef cattle herd still in contraction mode?
Unfortunately, there are few available clues in last week’s September USDA Cattle on Feed report as to the direction the beef industry is headed. USDA livestock analyst, Shayle Shagam, says that next month’s report will probably offer more insight as to whether producers are beginning to retain heifers to kickstart the herd rebuild.
Friday’s Cattle on Feed report showed that August placements into feedlots were one percent below a year ago. The September feedlot inventory was up one percent says Shagam.
That was USDA livestock analyst, Shayle Shagam.
