Placements of cattle into U.S. feedlots were higher in May, the first increase since late last year.

The USDA says those placements were larger than expected, up 5% from May 2022 at 1.955 million head, most of those weighing between 700 and 900 pounds, heading to market between November and February. That year-to-year jump can be tied to increased feeder cattle imports from Canada and Mexico.

Marketings during May were 1.946 million head, 2% higher, while the total number of cattle on feed in the U.S.

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