AUSTIN . . . Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Texas feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 2.61 million head on June 1, down 3 percent from a year ago. According to the monthly report released by the Texas Field Office, the estimate was also down 3 percent from May 1 level. Producers placed 455,000 head in commercial feedlots during May, down 19 percent from a year ago, but up 15 percent from the April 2009 total.
Texas commercial feeders marketed 510,000 head during May, down 7 percent from last year but the same as last month.
On June 1, there were 2.2 million head of cattle and calves on feed in the Northern High Plains, 84 percent of the state=s total. The number on feed across the area was down 3 percent from last year and down 2 percent from the May total.
May placements in the Northern High Plains totaled 398,000 head, up 16 percent from the April total. Marketings were down 1 percent from last month to 431,000 head.
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States in feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 10.4 million head on June 1, 2009. This inventory was 4 percent below June 1, 2008.
Placements in feedlots during May totaled 1.64 million head, 14 percent below May 2008. May placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds totaled 395,000 head; 600-699 pounds totaled 305,000 head; 700-799 pounds totaled 433,000 head; 800 pounds and greater totaled 505,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during May totaled 1.95 million head, 9 percent below 2008.