USDA released the monthly Cattle on Feed report today. Total inventory, placements and marketings all came in lower than the pre-report estimates, though total inventory was at the same volume or higher than last year for the seventh consecutive month.

Placements came in well below the average pre-report consensus estimate. As WPI previewed yesterday, it’s cheaper to feed out cattle to heavier weights than it is to buy expensive feeder cattle. Plus, February saw a record number of placements for the month and feeder cattle supplies remain tight. As WPI noted on 22 March, for the March COF analysis: Looking ahead, next month’s report will show a drop in month-over-month marketings as there have been about four weeks of slaug...