May 24, 2004

U.S. Cattle On Feed Down 2 Percent

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.36 million head on May 1, 2004.  The inventory was 2 percent below May 1, 2003 and 6 percent below May 1, 2002.

Placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.60 million, 14 percent below 2003 but 10 percent above 2002.  Net placements were 1.51 million.   During April, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 316,000, 600-699 pounds were 302,000, 700-799 pounds were 567,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 418,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during April totaled 1.89 million, 5 percent below both 2003 and 2002.

Other disappearance totaled 97,000 during April, 54 percent above 2003 and 17 percent above 2002.