I wonder if the increase in feed might have to do with lower quality corn out there. Lower test weights should lead to lower feed efficiencies, hence more quantity for a pound of gain. As the year progresses, the disappearance should be higher than expected.

Secondly, with the late harvest, and snow bound fields, speaking from my local perspective, cattle are commonly placed on stocks following harvest to graze any remaining grain from the fields. There are very few fields locally that have or will have any cattle this time.