From USDA
The USDA released the Cattle on Feed Report Friday.
United States Cattle on Feed Up Slightly
The latest round of USDA cattle on feed numbers have modest increases in a couple of the major categories. Before the report, most analysts were expecting year to year declines, so the numbers do indicate at least some herd expansion.
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.8 million head on April 1, 2015. The inventory was slightly above April 1, 2014. The inventory included 7.46 million steers and steer calves, up 5 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 69 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.34 million head, down 10 percent from 2014.
Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.81 million, slightly above 2014. Net placements were 1.74 million head. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 365,000, 600-699 pounds were 275,000, 700-799 pounds were 449,000, and 800 pounds and greater were720,000.
Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.63 million, 2 percent below 2014. March marketings are the lowest since the series began in 1996.
Other disappearance totaled 69,000 during March, 6 percent above 2014.
Source: USDA