Nebraska Cattle on Feed Up 6 Percent

Lincoln, Neb., April 20, 2012 -- Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.53 million cattle on feed on April 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. This inventory was up 6 percent from last year and is the highest April inventory since the data series began in 1994.

Placements in feedlots during March totaled 440,000 head, up 13 percent from 2011. These are the highest March placements since the data series began in 1994.  Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 460,000 head, up 7 percent from last year, and the largest number of head marketed since the data series began in 1994. Other disappearance during March totaled 20,000 head, compared with 10,000 head a year ago.

U.S. Cattle on Feed Up 2 Percent

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.5 million head on April 1, 2012. The inventory was 2 percent above April 1, 2011.  Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.79 million, 6 percent below 2011.  Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.92 million, 4 percent below 2011. Other disappearance totaled 69,000 during March, 30 percent above 2011.