U.S. feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more see cattle on feed up 2% year-over-year to 11.5 million head on April 1, USDA says; feedlot placements down 6% to 1.79 million head in March

Andrew Rogers

WASHINGTON , April 23, 2012 (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA)) – Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.5 million head on April 1, 2012. The inventory was 2 percent above April 1, 2011. The inventory included 7.17 million steers and steer calves, up 1 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 62 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.25 million head, up 4 percent from 2011.

Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.79 million, 6 percent below 2011. Net placements were 1.72 million head. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 390,000, 600-699 pounds were 300,000, 700-799 pounds were 500,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 602,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.92 million, 4 percent below 2011.

Other disappearance totaled 69,000 during March, 30 percent above 2011.

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