By DTN Staff
OMAHA (DTN) -- Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.6 million head on May 1, 2026. The inventory was 2% above May 1, 2025, USDA NASS reported on Friday.
Placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.70 million head, 6% above 2025. Net placements were 1.65 million head. During April, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 330,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 245,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 390,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 457,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 210,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 70,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during April totaled 1.64 million head, 10% below 2025.
Other disappearance totaled 52,000 head during April, 4% above 2025.
**
DTN subscribers can view the full Cattle on Feed reports in the Livestock Archives folder under the Markets menu. The report is also available at https://www.nass.usda.gov/….
| |
USDA Actual |
Average Estimate* |
Range |
| On Feed May 1 |
102% |
101.6% |
100.2-102.4% |
| Placed in April |
106% |
104.6% |
96.2-108.5% |
| Marketed in April |
90% |
90.7% |
89.9-91.7% |
| * Estimates compiled by Dow Jones. |
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