OMAHA (DTN) -- Friday's Feb. 1 USDA Cattle on Feed report is setting out to add yet more bullish fuel to the market's already blazing fire.

Seeing lower on-feed numbers than a year ago, followed by fewer placements and extremely aggressive marketings paints a bull-spreaders dream for what a "perfect" Cattle on Feed report could be.

The theme of fewer cattle placed and aggressive marketings is something that we should expect for most of the year, as the nation possesses fewer cattle than a year ago and the fewest beef cows in the last 51 years. And not to be forgotten nor overlooked is how excellent beef demand is driving the cash cattle market and helping feedlots maintain extremely current showlists.

All in all, Friday's Cattle on Feed report should be extremely favorable to the market.

USDA will release its Feb. 1 Cattle on Feed at 2 p.m. CST on Friday.

USDA Actual Average Estimate Range On Feed Feb. 1 96.3% 95.7-99.5% Placed in January 97.1% 95.5-99.7% Marketed in January 104.0% 102.7-104.6%

ShayLe Stewart can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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