Image by clintvet.gmail.com/DepositPhotos
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released their June Cattle on Feed Cattle Report, and it shows the number calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.6 million head on June 1st. That is slightly below June 1, 2023. So, despite the fact that placements in feedlots during May, at 2.05 million head, was 4 percent above 2023, USDA livestock analyst Mike McConnell notes the report suggests the cattle herd reduction is continuing.
With placements up four percent from a year ago, the USDA June report breaks it down showing net placements were 1.98 million head. During May, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 395,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 315,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 485,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 531,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 230,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 90,000 head.
Marketing’s of fed cattle during May totaled 1.96 million head, slightly above 2023.