April Cattle On Feed Report...

Released by USDA on April 21, 2023

United States Cattle on Feed Down 4 Percent

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.6 million head on April 1, 2023. The inventory was 4 percent below April 1, 2022. The inventory included 7.12 million steers and steer calves, down 6 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 61 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.50 million head, down 2 percent from 2022.

Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.99 million head, 1 percent below 2022. Net placements were 1.94 million head. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 390,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 310,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 540,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 517,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 175,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 60,000 head.

Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.98 million head, 1 percent below 2022.

Other disappearance totaled 53,000 head during March, unchanged from 2022.