WASHINGTON, DC – A backlog in processing plants due to COVID-19 outbreaks that closed or curtailed operations at packing plants has resulted in the lowest number of fed cattle marketed in May since the report began in 1996 – 24 years ago. Even though many processing facilities are up and running, the backlog is likely to pressure summer fed cattle prices.
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.7 million head on June 1, 2020. The inventory was slightly below June 1, 2019. This is the second highest June 1 inventory since the series began in 1996.
Placements in feedlots during May totaled 2.04 million head, 1 percent below 2019. Net placements were 1.97 million head. During May, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 375,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 305,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 485,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 532,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 235,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 105,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during May totaled 1.50 million head, 28 percent below 2019. Marketings were the lowest for May since the series began in 1996.
Other disappearance totaled 66,000 head during May, 8 percent below 2019.
On June 1, there were 2.59 million head of cattle and calves on feed in the Northern High Plains, 88 percent of the state’s total. The number on feed across the area was up 2 percent from last year and up 9 percent from the May 1 total. May placements in the Northern High Plains totaled 506 thousand head, down 70 percent from the April total. Marketings were down 20 percent from last month at 279 thousand head.
TEXAS: Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Texas feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 2.93 million head on June 1, 2020, up 2 percent from a year ago. Producers placed 565 thousand head in commercial feedlots during May, down 2 percent from a year ago. Texas commercial feeders marketed 315 thousand head during May, down 35 percent from 2019.
OKLAHOMA: Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Oklahoma feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 315 thousand head on June 1, 2020, unchanged from a year ago. Producers placed 65 thousand head in commercial feedlots during May, down 11 percent from a year ago. Oklahoma commercial feeders marketed 44 thousand head during May, down 29 percent from 2019. Other disappearance during May totaled 1 thousand head, unchanged from a year ago.
KANSAS: Kansas feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.43 million cattle on feed on June 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was up 2% from last year. Placements during May totaled 485,000 head, up 8% from 2019. Fed cattle marketings for the month of May totaled 365,000 head, down 17% from last year. Other disappearance during May totaled 10,000 head, unchanged from last year.
NEBRASKA: Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.41 million cattle on feed on June 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was down 1% from last year. Placements during May totaled 410,000 head, down 11% from 2019. Fed cattle marketings for the month of May totaled 355,000 head, down 38% from last year. Other disappearance during May totaled 15,000 head, down 5,000 head from last year.
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 1,010,000 head as of June 1, 2020. This latest inventory is 6 percent above last month’s inventory but 5 percent below the June 1, 2019 inventory. Cattle feeders with 1,000 head or larger capacity marketed an estimated 140,000 head of fed cattle during May 2020, 17 percent above last month but 7 percent below the May 2019 marketings. An estimated 210,000 cattle and calves were placed on feed during May 2020, 83 percent above a month ago and 31 percent above the May 2019 placements. Of the number placed in May, 17 percent weighed less than 600 pounds, 14 percent weighed from 600 to 699 pounds, 24 percent weighed from 700 to 799 pounds, 26 percent weighed 800 to 899 pounds and 19 percent weighed 900 pounds or greater. Other disappearance for May 2020 is estimated at 10,000 head, up 5,000 head from last month, but no change from last year.
MINNESOTA: Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Minnesota for feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 130,000 head on June 1, 2020, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This is unchanged from last month and last year. Placements during May totaled 11,000 head, down 2,000 head from April and down 5,000 head from last year. Marketings for May were 10,000 head, down 2,000 head from last month and down 15,000 head from last year. Other disappearance totaled 1,000 head.
IOWA: Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 640,000 head on June 1, 2020, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. This was up 3% from May but down 3% from June 1, 2019. Iowa feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head had 575,000 head on feed, down 2% from last month and down 3% from last year. Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in all Iowa feedlots totaled 1,215,000 head, up 1% from last month but down 3% from last year.
Placements of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during May totaled 75,000 head, up 21% from April and up 10% from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head placed 42,000 head, up 56% from April but down 7% from last year. Placements for all feedlots in Iowa totaled 117,000 head, up 31% from April and up 4% from last year.
Marketings of fed cattle from Iowa feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during May totaled 52,000 head, down 24% from April and down 39% from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head marketed 48,000 head, up 20% from April but down 31% from last year. Marketings for all feedlots in Iowa were 100,000 head, down 7% from April and down 35% from last year. Other disappearance from all feedlots in Iowa totaled 7,000 head.
NEBRASKA: Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.41 million cattle on feed on June 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was down 1% from last year. Placements during May totaled 410,000 head, down 11% from 2019. Fed cattle marketings for the month of May totaled 355,000 head, down 38% from last year. Other disappearance during May totaled 15,000 head, down 5,000 head from last year.
