cattle

No Big Surprises in June Cattle on Feed Report

Clint Thompson Cattle

Cattle on a ranch. Photo taken 03-07-19.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released its June Cattle on Feed Report. The numbers indicate cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.7 million head on June 1, 2021. That is slightly above June 1, 2020 and is the second highest June 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. According to a story from Gary Crawford, the updated numbers were not unexpected.

Placements in feedlots during May totaled 1.91 million head, 7% below 2020. Net placements were 1.84 million head. During May, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 355,000 head; 600-699 pounds were 255,000 head; 700-799 pounds were 470,000 head; 800-899 pounds were 501,000 head; 900-999 pounds were 235,000 head; and 1,000 pounds and greater were 95,000 head.

Marketings of fed cattle during May totaled 1.87 million head, 23% above 2020.