The USDA reported big drops in both placements and marketings in its latest Cattle on Feed report.
University of Tennessee ag economist Charley Martinez says it’s a reflection of the current environment. “Placements during the month of May, were down a massive 10% compared to 2025,” he says. “Marketings of fed cattle, were 12% below last year, and the second lowest May total recorded since the series began in 1996.”
He tells Brownfield there are two major contributing factors. “Part of that is the outcome of having tight supplies and simply if we don’t have them and people might be hanging on a little bit in certain areas, we could be influencing that number,” he says. “So, it could be a total cattle availability down compared to a year ago, but also some people may be thinking about rebuilding.”
Martinez says placements will continue to be the number to watch, especially as the industry navigates quarantines from additional detections of New World screwworm.
The USDA reports all Cattle on Feed were up 2 percent from this time last year.
