May 20, 2014
 

US cattle for slaughter falls 1%

Cattle and calves for slaughter at feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head dipped 1% to 10.6 million head on May 1, the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reported.

April placements in feedlots were down 5% to 1.64 million compared to a year ago, according to NASS. For April, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 lbs. were 385,000, 600-699 lbs. were 255,000, 700-799 lbs. were 396,000 and 800 lbs. and greater were 600,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during April declined 2% to 1.78 million. NASS noted that marketings for April were the lowest for the month since the reports began in 1996.

Other disappearance totalled 83,000 during April, 20% above 2013 figures, NASS said.