Cattle on Feed Report Preview   05/22  08:51

Wide-Ranging Placement Estimates Put May Cattle on Feed Report 
in the Spotlight

By ShayLe Stewart
DTN Livestock Analyst

                      USDA Actual   Average Estimate*      Range

On Feed May 1                           101.6%      100.2-102.4%
Placed in April                         104.6%       96.2-108.5%
Marketed in April                        90.7%        89.9-91.7%

* Estimates compiled by Dow Jones.

OMAHA (DTN) -- Friday's May 1 USDA Cattle on Feed report needs 
to be on your radar, as it's expected to be a heavy hitter for 
the marketplace.

With placements anticipated to range anywhere from 96.2% to 
108.5%, traders will likely remain on edge until the data is 
released and clarity can be sought. The two biggest reasons why 
the placement data is expected to be greater than a year ago are 
because drought has pushed more feeders into feedlots earlier 
than normal, and feedlot turnover is slower than years past as 
cattle continue to be fed to greater weights.

**

USDA will release its May 1 Cattle on Feed report at 2 p.m. CDT 
on Friday.

ShayLe Stewart can be reached at ShayLe.Stewart@dtn.com