Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.2 million head on May 1, 2011. The inventory was 7 percent above May 1, 2010.
Placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.80 million, 10 percent above 2010. This is the second highest placements for the month of April since the series began in 1996. Net placements were 1.74 million head. During April, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 450,000, 600-699 pounds were 310,000, 700-799 pounds were 490,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 545,000.
Marketings of fed cattle during April totaled 1.81 million, 3 percent below 2010.
Other disappearance totaled 59,000 during April, 35 percent below 2010. This is the lowest other disappearance for the month of April since the series began in 1996.
