Cattle On Feed (2020 vs. 2021)

United States Cattle on Feed Up 5 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 11.9 million head on April 1, 2021. The inventory was 5 percent above April 1, 2020. This is the second highest April 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. The inventory included 7.41 million steers and steer calves, up 5 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 62 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.49 million head, up 7 percent from 2020.

Placements in feedlots during March totaled 2.00 million head, 28 percent above 2020. Net placements were 1.94 million head. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 405,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 325,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 510,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 522,000 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 2.04 million head, 1 percent above 2020. Marketings were the second highest for March since the series began in 1996.

Other disappearance totaled 60,000 head during March, 2 percent below 2020.

Cattle On Feed Inventory

Cattle On Feed Placements

Cattle On Feed Marketings