# Ups and downs of cattle prices

> Oklahoma State extension economist Derrell Peel reported that April 1 feedlot inventories were about 11.7 million head, up about 7.5% year over year. Steers on feed were up 4.1% and heifer inventories were up 14% as drought pushed cattle into feedlots early. Drought and hay shortages in the Southwest are adding to pressure on producers.

- Date: 2018-05-04 · published 2018-05-04T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: report · region US · magnitude medium
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/10633-ups-and-downs-of-cattle-prices
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

Larger feedlot inventories set up seasonal peak marketings in May and June, which typically pressures live and feeder cattle prices. Drought-driven placements have increased near-term beef supply.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: bearish ▼
- LCATTLE: bearish ▼

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| LCATTLE | 2023-10-24 | [USDA Cattle on Feed Report Hits Cattle Prices Hard](https://feedsoft.ai/events/10309-usda-cattle-on-feed-report-hits-cattle-prices-hard.md) | +1.1% | -3.0% |
| LCATTLE | 2016-12-23 | [Cattle prices declined in October - Progressive Cattle \| Ag Proud](https://feedsoft.ai/events/73417-cattle-prices-declined-in-october-progressive-cattle-ag-proud.md) | +3.7% | +6.4% |
| LCATTLE | 2018-06-08 | [Projecting feeder cattle prices in 2018](https://feedsoft.ai/events/64683-projecting-feeder-cattle-prices-in-2018.md) | +0.8% | -2.6% |
| LCATTLE | 2023-12-22 | [Dec. 1 Cattle on Feed Up 3%](https://feedsoft.ai/events/32853-dec-1-cattle-on-feed-up-3.md) | +0.7% | +2.7% |
| LCATTLE | 2022-03-28 | [March 1 Cattle on Feed Up 1%](https://feedsoft.ai/events/42437-march-1-cattle-on-feed-up-1.md) | -0.7% | +0.9% |
| FCATTLE | 2023-10-24 | [USDA Cattle on Feed Report Hits Cattle Prices Hard](https://feedsoft.ai/events/10309-usda-cattle-on-feed-report-hits-cattle-prices-hard.md) | +0.0% | -3.3% |
| FCATTLE | 2016-12-23 | [Cattle prices declined in October - Progressive Cattle \| Ag Proud](https://feedsoft.ai/events/73417-cattle-prices-declined-in-october-progressive-cattle-ag-proud.md) | -0.5% | +1.0% |
| FCATTLE | 2018-06-08 | [Projecting feeder cattle prices in 2018](https://feedsoft.ai/events/64683-projecting-feeder-cattle-prices-in-2018.md) | -1.6% | +4.2% |

## Sources

- farmprogress.com: https://www.farmprogress.com/livestock/ups-and-downs-of-cattle-prices

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.