Cattle On Feed

Apr 28, 2016

The United States Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA, NASS) released their monthly Cattle on Feed report on Friday April 22, 2016. The latest numbers released by the USDA were bullish in total numbers of placements and marketings, compared to trade expectations. Total cattle on feed on April 1, 2016 numbered 10.9 million head, up 0.5 percent from April 2015 levels, and at industry expectations.

Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.89 million head, up 4.6 percent from 2015, and slightly lower than expected. Placements were up 10% in Colorado, 4% in Kansas, 3% in Nebraska, and 8% in Texas. This is the second month in a row where placements have seen a year over year increase, and based on growing cattle supplies will likely remain up for the duration of 2016. Cattle weighing over 800 pounds saw an increase of 6.9%. Placements for cattle weighing under 600 pounds decreased by 3.6%, cattle weighing 600-699 was on par with 2015, cattle 700-700 increased 10.3%, and cattle weighing over 800 pounds increased by 6.9%. This trend for placing heavier cattle and the subsequent lower number of days on feed will likely continue for another couple of months due to the sharp decrease in cattle prices and the discount structure in far-deferred contracts.

March marketings, at 1.89 million head, were up 7 percent were higher than industry expectations. There was one more marketing day available in 2016 compared to 2015, which would attribute to greater marketings. The number of cattle on feed over 120 days is below year ago levels.

Source:u.osu.edu

Video: Sweetener Effects on Gut Health - Dr. Kwangwook Kim

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Kwangwook Kim, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, discusses the use of non-nutritive sweeteners in nursery pig diets. He explains how sucralose and neotame influence feed intake, gut health, metabolism, and the frequency of diarrhea compared to antibiotics. The conversation highlights mechanisms beyond palatability, including hormone signaling and nutrient transport. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Receptors responsible for sweet taste are present not only in the mouth but also along the intestinal tract.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Kwangwook Kim / kwangwook-kim is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, specializing in swine nutrition and feed additives under disease challenge models. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of California, Davis, where he focused on intestinal health and metabolic responses in pigs. His research evaluates alternatives to antibiotics, targeting gut health and performance in nursery pigs.