April 24, 2012

US cattle on feed rises by 2%

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head have amounted to 11.5 million head on April 1, according to the US Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

The inventory was 2% above the year-ago period, NASS reported. The inventory included 7.17 million steers and steer calves, and increase of 1% from the previous year. Steer and steer calves accounted for 62% of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.25 million head, up 4% from 2011, according to NASS.

Placements in feedlots during March retreated 6% to 1.79 million. Net placements were 1.72 million head, according to NASS. 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.

Marketing of fed cattle during March totalled 1.92 million, a 4% decrease from 2011, NASS said. Other disappearance totalled 69,000 during March, 30% above 2011.