Cattle on Feed Up 4%
USDA’s July cattle on feed report showed 11.3 million head in U.S. feedlots with a capacity of more than 1,000 head. The inventory totaled 4% more than the July 1, 2017 estimate. This is the highest July 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. The inventory included 7.13 million steers and steer calves, up 2% from the previous year. This group accounted for 63 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.15 million head, up 8 percent from 2017.
Placements in feedlots during June totaled 1.79 million head, 1% above 2017. Net placements were 1.74 million head. During June, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 400,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 345,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 385,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 378,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 185,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 100,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during June totaled 2.01 million head, 1% above 2017.
