# Do we have a placement prediction problem? | Western Livestock Journal

> Average pre-report analyst estimates for the March 23 Cattle on Feed report placed feedlot inventories at 108.1 percent of a year earlier, placements at 104.5 percent, and marketings at 101.4 percent. Analysts have underestimated placements in most recent months, and the article discusses whether the USDA survey is the more reliable measure.

- Date: 2018-03-26 · published 2018-03-26T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: report · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/66162-do-we-have-a-placement-prediction-problem-western-livestock-journal
- Commodities: [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md), [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

Surprises versus pre-report estimates have moved feeder cattle futures sharply. Larger-than-expected placements point to more feedlot demand for feed and more near-term cattle supply.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: neutral
- LCATTLE: neutral

## Similar past events

| Commodity | Date | Event | 5-day % | 20-day % |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| FCATTLE | 2019-11-04 | [October Cattle on Feed hits expectations \| Western Livestock Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/56209-october-cattle-on-feed-hits-expectations-western-livestock-journal.md) | -1.4% | -4.7% |
| FCATTLE | 2021-02-05 | [Cattle inventories drift slightly lower \| Western Livestock Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/48573-cattle-inventories-drift-slightly-lower-western-livestock-journal.md) | -0.3% | -3.5% |
| FCATTLE | 2024-01-19 | [Livestock markets to have several positives, according to WASDE - High Plains Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/32075-livestock-markets-to-have-several-positives-according-to-wasde-high-plains.md) | +0.5% | +7.0% |
| FCATTLE | 2020-02-06 | [US cattle herd expansion ends \| Meat & Livestock Australia](https://feedsoft.ai/events/54548-us-cattle-herd-expansion-ends-meat-and-livestock-australia.md) | -0.5% | -1.5% |
| FCATTLE | 2022-04-01 | [Corn Costs and Cattle Placement Weights \| UNL Beef \| Nebraska](https://feedsoft.ai/events/7627-corn-costs-and-cattle-placement-weights-unl-beef-nebraska.md) | +0.3% | +0.3% |
| LCATTLE | 2020-10-02 | [Cattle on Feed report pushes feeders south \| Western Livestock Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/50773-cattle-on-feed-report-pushes-feeders-south-western-livestock-journal.md) | +1.5% | -1.0% |
| LCATTLE | 2024-01-19 | [Livestock markets to have several positives, according to WASDE - High Plains Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/32075-livestock-markets-to-have-several-positives-according-to-wasde-high-plains.md) | +0.9% | +4.7% |
| LCATTLE | 2024-03-20 | [Latest WASDE report raises red meat, poultry production - High Plains Journal](https://feedsoft.ai/events/31165-latest-wasde-report-raises-red-meat-poultry-production-high-plains-journal.md) | -0.8% | -2.9% |

## Sources

- wlj.net: https://www.wlj.net/do-we-have-a-placement-prediction-problem/

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