The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released its latest report on cattle on feed. As of June 1, 2024, cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in U.S. feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.6 million head. This figure is slightly below the inventory recorded on June 1, 2023.
In May 2024, placements in feedlots reached 2.05 million head, marking a 4 percent increase compared to the same month in 2023. Net placements for May stood at 1.98 million head. The breakdown of placements by weight category for the month is as follows:
- Less than 600 pounds: 395,000 head
- 600-699 pounds: 315,000 head
- 700-799 pounds: 485,000 head
- 800-899 pounds: 531,000 head
- 900-999 pounds: 230,000 head
- 1,000 pounds and greater: 90,000 head
Marketing of fed cattle in May totaled 1.96 million head, slightly above the figures from May 2023. Other disappearance, which includes death loss and movement from feedlots to pasture, totaled 62,000 head in May, a 16 percent decrease compared to the same month last year.
