Less cattle On Feed; Seasonal Slaughter Increases Ahead

By Derrell S. Peel

Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist

The April Cattle on Feed report showed that feedlot inventories as of April 1 were 10.86 million head, 99 percent of inventories one year ago. March placements were down 3.7 percent from last year; a surprise compared to the pre-report expectations for placements to be up slightly year over year. One again regional variation help to explain the differences, with placements in the Midwest and Northern Plains consistent with the expectations while placements in the Southern Plains were significantly lower, which pulled down total placements. Feedlot marketings in March were 96 percent of year ago levels, close to expectations.

USDA estimates that total cattle slaughter for the year to date is down 6.4 percent leading to a cumulative decrease in beef production of 5.8 percent so far this year. Actual slaughter data for the first 12 days of April shows that total cattle slaughter decreased year over year by 12.3 percent including a 5.8 percent decrease in steer slaughter and a 19 percent decrease in combined heifer and cow slaughter.   The number of heifers on feed for April 1 was 94 percent of year ago levels. Fewer heifers are in feedlots as has been the case in the previous quarterly reports for January and last October and, unlike last year there is little indication that poor forage conditions will redirect heifers into feedlots as happened in the middle of the year in 2013.

Cattle carcass weights in April are averaging significantly heavier that last year, and have not shown the usual seasonal decrease that is typical in April and into May. This is occurring not because cattle are heavier this year, (steer dressed weights are up only slightly), but because of the sharp drop in heifer and cow slaughter. Steers are making up nearly 4 percent more of the slaughter mix compared to last year. Additionally, both heifer and cow carcass weights are down year over year.