USDA’s monthly Cattle on Feed report will be released tomorrow. Analysts’ pre-report consensus estimates are for the total inventory on feed to be 99.1 percent of last year with the range of estimates between 98.7 and 99.7 percent of 1 September 2024. Those estimates imply an on-feed inventory of 11.907 million head.

Marketings are forecast at 87.1 percent of last year in a range of 86.5 to 87.6 percent. If the analysts are correct, this would be the lowest fed cattle marketing volume since August 2015. Part of the expected decline in marketings is due to one less slaughter day from a year ago, however, cattle supplies remain tight which is the driver of lower marketings. Placements are expected to be down as well, facing the s...