Report Suggests 5 Percent Reduction in Cattle Herd

WASHINGTON, DC – Cattle and calves on feed, as of the first of May, is running 5 percent below the same time last year, that’s according to the latest USDA Cattle on Feed Report. With roughly 11.2 million head in feedlots today, USDA projects placements for April down 22 percent from April of 2019 and second-lowest level since 1996. Marketings of fed cattle totaled 1.46 million head and represents the lowest level since the series began 25 years ago. In addition, according to USDA’s numbers, the 70,000 head disappearance for the month of April is 17 percent higher than during the same time period last year.