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 960,000 head as of April 1, 2020. 

The latest inventory was 9 percent below April 1, 2019 inventory and 9 percent below the previous month’s inventory.

The inventory included 525,000 steer and steer calves, 9 percent below the previous year. The number of heifer and heifer calves, at 435,000 head, are down 9 percent from a year ago.

Cattle feeders with 1,000 head or larger capacity marketed an estimated 220,000 head of fed cattle during March 2020. This was 5 percent above the previous month’s marketings and 19 percent above marketings one year earlier.

An estimated 135,000 cattle and calves were placed on feed during March, 18 percent below the previous month’s placements and down 33 percent from March 2019 placements. Of the number placed in March, 19 percent weighed less than 600 pounds, 15 percent weighed from 600 to 699 pounds, 26 percent weighed from 700 to 799 pounds, 26 percent weighed 800-899 pounds, and 15 percent weighed 900 pounds or greater.

Other disappearance for March, 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 11.3 million head on April 1, 2020. The inventory was 5 percent below April 1, 2019.

The inventory included 7.08 million steers and steer calves, down 5 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 63 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.22 million head, down 7 percent from 2019.

Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.56 million head, 23 percent below 2019. Placements were the lowest for March since the series began in 1996. Net placements were 1.50 million head.

During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 310,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 220,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 410,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 402,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 155,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 60,000 head.

Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 2.01 million head, 13 percent above 2019. Marketings were the second highest for March since the series began in 1996.

Other disappearance totaled 61,000 head during March, 12 percent below 2019.