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 April 1, 2009. The inventory was 5% below April 1, 2008, according to the Cattle on Feed Report released today.
The inventory included 6.98 million steers and steer calves, down 5% from the previous year. This group accounted for 63% of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.12 million head, down 4% from 2008.
Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.80 million, 4% above 2008. Net placements were 1.75 million head. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 300,000, 600-699 pounds were 340,000, 700-799 pounds were 592,000 and 800 pounds and greater were 570,000.
Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.83 million, 1% below 2008.
Other disappearance totaled 50,000 during March, 21% below 2008. This is the lowest other disappearance for the month of March since the series began in 1996.
COF Report | USDA | Average | Range |
% of year-ago levels
| |||
On Feed | 95
| 95.6 | 95.0-97.5 |
Placements | 104
| 103.8 | 95.6-112.3 |
Marketings | 99
| 99.2 | 97.0-100.4 |
Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, United States, April 1, 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : 2009 as % Item :---------------------------------------- : 2008 : 2009 : of 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head ---- Percent : On Feed Mar 1 : 11,853 11,228 95 Placed on Feed During Mar : 1,736 1,802 104 Fed Cattle Marketed During Mar : 1,842 1,828 99 Other Disappearance During Mar : 63 50 79 On Feed Apr 1 : 11,684 11,152 95 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
