Cattle feedlot placement shrinks as scientist models Foot and Mouth Disease

Drovers Cattle Network writer Matt Morgan reported the decline in cattle feedlot placements. The top ten states with feedlot capacity are reported in table 1. Cattle placements were down 4% from last year. Nebraska placements fell 175,00 head to 485,000 head. The 27 month placement low for Nebraska was set in March of 2013 at 350,000 head. Texas placements fell 135,000 to 385,000 head. December marks the first time in the past five months that placements have fallen in Texas.

Morgan was asked if this shrinkage was due to heifer retention as proof that the US cattle herd was experiencing rebuil...