An ag economist says there’s still no clear signs of expansion in the cattle herd.  

Josh Maples with Mississippi State University Extension says heifers held back for beef cow replacement were up 3 percent in the Cattle Inventory report.  He says it’s the first increase since 2015, but adds that 3.8 million head is still the second lowest half retention number going back the last 50 years. 

Maples says the July Cattle on Feed report showed heifers made up more than 37 percent of cattle in feedlots. 

The USDA has all Cattle on Feed up 2 percent on the year.  Placements were down 3 percent, and marketings were down 3 percent.   

With the exception of placements, the USDA’s numbers came in near pre-report expectations.