Cattle on feed numbers released

Colorado: The number of cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Colorado feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 head or larger was estimated at 950,000 head as of April 1. The latest inventory was 1 percent above April 1, 2017 inventory, but no change from the previous month’s inventory.

The inventory included 535,000 steer and steer calves, 12 percent below the previous year. The number of heifer and heifer calves, at 415,000 head, are up 24 percent from a year ago.

Cattle feeders with 1,000 head or larger capacity marketed an estimated 160,000 head of fed cattle during March 2018. This was 6 percent below the previous month’s marketings and also 6 percent below marketings one year earlier.

An estimated 165,000 cattle and calves were placed on feed during March, no change from the previous month’s placements, but down 20 percent from March 2017 placements. Of the number placed in March, 15 percent weighed less than 600 pounds, 15 percent weighed from 600 to 699 pounds, 24 percent weighed from 700 to 799 pounds, 30 percent weighed 800-899 pounds, and 15 percent weighed 900 pounds or greater.

Other disappearance for March, at 5,000 head, was the same as last month and last year.

Iowa: Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 740,000 head on April 1, according to the latest National Agricultural Statistics Service, Cattle on Feed report. This was up 1 percent from March 1, 2018 and up 10 percent from April 1, 2017.

Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head had 570,000 head on feed, down 3 percent from last month and down 7 percent from last year. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in all Iowa feedlots totaled 1,310,000 head, down 5,000 head from last month but up 2 percent from last year.

Placements of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during March totaled 107,000 head, a decrease of 9 percent from last month and down 8 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head placed 38,000 head, down 16 percent from last month and down 46 percent from last year. Placements for all feedlots in Iowa totaled 145,000 head, down 11 percent from last month and down 22 percent from last year.

Marketings of fed cattle from Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during March totaled 93,000 head, down 12 percent from last month but unchanged from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head marketed 51,000 head, up 34 percent from last month but down 9 percent from last year. Marketings for all feedlots in Iowa were 144,000 head, unchanged from last month but down 3 percent from last year. Other disappearance from all feedlots in Iowa totaled 6,000 head.

Minnesota: Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Minnesota for all feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 160,000 head on April 1, according to the latest National Agricultural Statistics Service, Cattle on Feed report. This is down 5,000 from last month but unchanged from last year.

Placements during March totaled 17,000 head, up 1,000 head from last month but down 6,000 head from last year. Marketings for March were 21,000 head, up 1,000 head from last month but down 1,000 head from last year. Other disappearance totaled 1,000 head.

Nebraska: In Nebraska feedlots with capacities of 1,000 or more head, pens contained 2.69 million cattle on feed on April 1, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was up 9 percent from last year.

Placements during March totaled 480,000 head, down 3 percent from 2017.

Fed cattle marketings for the month of March totaled 465,000 head, unchanged from last year. Other disappearance during March totaled 15,000 head, up 5,000 head from last year.

Oklahoma: Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Oklahoma feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 310,000 head on April 1, up 3 percent from a year ago. Producers placed 53,000 head in commercial feedlots during March, down 27 percent from a year ago. Oklahoma commercial feeders marketed 57,000 head during March, down 15 percent from 2017. Other disappearance during March totaled 1,000 head, unchanged from a year ago.

South Dakota: In South Dakota feedlots with capacities of 1,000 or more head, pens contained 260,000 cattle on feed on April 1, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was up 4 percent from last year.

Placements during March totaled 27,000 head, down 31 percent from 2017.

Fed cattle marketings for the month of March totaled 36,000 head, down 5 percent from last year.

Other disappearance during March totaled 1,000 head, unchanged from last year.

Texas: Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Texas feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 2.70 million head on April 1, up 10 percent from a year ago. Producers placed 455,000 head in commercial feedlots during March, down 1 percent from a year ago. Texas commercial feeders marketed 420,000 head during March, down 1 percent from 2017.

On April 1, there were 2.35 million head of cattle and calves on feed in the Northern High Plains, 87 percent of the state’s total. The number on feed across the area was up 8 percent from last year and up 1 percent from the March 1 total. March placements in the Northern High Plains totaled 406,000 head, up 29 percent from the February total. Marketings were up 30 percent from last month at 361,000 head.

United States: Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.7 million head on April 1. The inventory was 7 percent above April 1, 2017. This is the second highest April 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. The inventory included 7.54 million steers and steer calves, up 4 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 64 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.19 million head, up 14 percent from 2017.

Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.92 million head, 9 percent below 2017. Net placements were 1.85 million head. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 315,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 285,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 530,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 531,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 185,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 75,000 head.

For a full copy of the April 2018 Cattle on Feed report please visit www.nass.usda.gov.