June 23, 2009

 

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Texas feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more totalled 2.61 million head on June 1, down three percent from a year ago.

 

According to the monthly report released by the Texas Field Office, the estimate was also down three percent from May 1 level. Producers placed 455,000 head in commercial feedlots during May, down 19 percent from a year ago, but up 15 percent from the April 2009 total.

 

Texas commercial feeders marketed 510,000 head during May, down seven percent from last year but the same as last month.

 

On June 1, there were 2.2 million head of cattle and calves on feed in the Northern High Plains, 84 percent of the state's total. The number on feed across the area was down three percent from last year and down two percent from the May total.

 

May placements in the Northern High Plains totalled 398,000 head, up 16 percent from the April total. Marketings were down one percent from last month to 431,000 head.

 

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the US in feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 head or more totalled 10.4 million head on June 1, 2009. This inventory was four-percent below June 1, 2008.

 

Placements in feedlots during May totalled 1.64 million head, 14-percent below May 2008. May placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds totalled 395,000 head; 600-699 pounds totalled 305,000 head; 700-799 pounds totalled 433,000 head; 800 pounds and greater totalled 505,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during May totalled 1.95 million head, nine-percent below 2008.