June 21, 2004

U.S. Cattle On Feed Up 1 Percent

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.62 million head on June 1, 2004.  The inventory was 1 percent above June 1, 2003 but 3 percent below June 1, 2002.

Placements in feedlots during May totaled 2.36 million, 2 percent above 2003 and 4 percent above 2002.  Net placements were 2.28 million.  During May, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 495,000, 600-699 pounds were 486,000, 700-799 pounds were 772,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 610,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during May totaled 2.03 million, 9 percent below 2003 and 7 percent below 2002.

Other disappearance totaled 79,000 during May, 22 percent above 2003 and 3 percent above 2002.

Source:  NASS/USDA