January 28, 2008

Colorado cattle on feed jumps 31 percent

Colorado's cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in feedlots was estimated at 1 million head as of December 1, 2007.

This latest inventory was up 4 percent from November 1, 2007 but down 4 percent from the 1.1 million head on feed on December 1, 2006.

On November 2007, Colorado cattle feeders with 1,000-head or larger capacity marketed an estimated 145,000 head of fed cattle, 12 percent below the marketings of the previous month but equals the marketings of a year ago.

An estimated 190,000 cattle and calves were placed on feed during November, down 27 percent from the October 2007 placements, but 31 percent above the previous year's placements of 145,000 head.

Among the November placements, 29 percent weighed less than 600 pounds, 32 percent weighed from 600 to 699 pounds, 18 percent weighed from 700 to 799 pounds, and 21 percent weighed 800 pounds or more.