USDA’s monthly cattle on feed report for 1 July will be released tomorrow. Analysts’ pre-report consensus estimates are for the total inventory on feed to be 102.2 percent of last year. Those estimates imply an on-feed inventory of 11.327 million head. If accurate, that would be the largest inventory on feed since 1 July 2022.

One basic trend is toward heavier weight cattle as the days on feed continue to expand. The monthly inventory of cattle on feed continues to grow in a tight cattle market. Placements are contracting, but the inventory has grown, and marketings have contracted too. Year-to-date through June, the average steer dressed weight has been 979 pounds, an increase of 33 pounds, or 3.5 percent, from the same period...