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 980,000 head as of October 1, 2018. The latest inventory was 9 percent above last month and 4 percent above the October 1, 2017 inventory.

The inventory included 550,000 steer and steer calves, 2 percent below the previous year. The number of heifer and heifer calves, at 430,000 head, are up 13 percent from a year ago. Cattle feeders with 1,000 head or larger capacity marketed an estimated 150,000 head of fed cattle during September 2018. This was 21 percent below last month’s marketings and 9 percent below September 2017 marketings. 

An estimated 235,000 cattle and calves were placed on feed during September, 15 percent above the previous month’s placements, but 6 percent below September 2017 placements. Of the number placed in September, 13 percent weighed less than 600 pounds, 11 percent weighed from 600 to 699 pounds, 19 percent weighed from 700 to 799 pounds, 30 percent weighed from 800-899 pounds, and 28 percent weighed 900 pounds and greater.

Other disappearance for September, at 5,000 head, was the same as last month and last year.

UNITED STATES

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.4 million head on October 1, 2018. The inventory was 5 percent above October 1, 2017. This is the highest October 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. 

The inventory included 7.09 million steers and steer calves, up 2 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 62 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.31 million head, up 11 percent from 2017. Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.05 million head, 5 percent below 2017. Net placements were 1.99 million head.

During September, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 425,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 330,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 430,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 466,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 280,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 120,000 head. 

Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.72 million head, 4 percent below 2017. Other disappearance totaled 57,000 head during September, 2 percent below 2017.