CATTLE ON FEED-/-COLORADO

CATTLE ON FEED-/-COLORADO

The number of cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Colorado feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 head or larger was estimated at 930,000 head as of April 1, 2017. The latest inventory was 3 percent above April 1, 2016 inventory and 2 percent above the previous month’s inventory.

The inventory included 600,000 steer and steer calves, 2 percent below the previous year. The number of heifer and heifer calves, at 330,000 head, are up 14 percent from a year ago. Cattle feeders with 1,000 head or larger capacity marketed an estimated 170,000 head of fed cattle during March 2017. This was 3 percent above the previous month’s marketings, and 13 percent above marketings one year earlier.

An estimated 195,000 cattle and calves were placed on feed during March, 8 percent above the previous month’s placements, and up 18 percent from March 2016 placements. Of the number placed in March, 15 percent weighed less than 600 pounds, 15 percent weighed from 600 to 699 pounds, 31 percent weighed from 700 to 799 pounds, 26 percent weighed 800-899 pounds, and 13 percent weighed 900 pounds or greater. Other disappearance for March, at 5,000 head, was the same as last month and last year.

UNITED STATES

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.9 million head on April 1, 2017. The inventory was slightly above April 1, 2016.

The inventory included 7.23 million steers and steer calves, down 2 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 66 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.67 million head, up 5 percent from 2016.

Placements in feedlots during March totaled 2.10 million head, 11 percent above 2016. Placements were the highest for March since the series began in Net placements were 2.05 million head. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 350,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 295,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 620,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 585,000, 900-999 pounds were 185,000, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 67,000 head.

Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.91 million head, 10 percent above 2016. Other disappearance totaled 56,000 head during March, 10 percent below 2016.

For a full copy of the April 2017 Cattle on Feed report please visit www.nass.usda.gov.