Iowa Cattle on Feed down 2 percent

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Iowa for all feedlots totaled 1,340,000 on May 1, 2012 according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Iowa Field Office. The inventory is down 3 percent from April 1, 2012 and down 2 percent from May 1, 2011. Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head had 650,000 head on feed, down 3 percent from last month but up 2 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head had 690,000 head on feed, down 2 percent from last month and down 5 percent from last year.

Placements during April totaled 106,000 head, a decrease of 20 percent from last month and down 26 percent from last year. This is the lowest total placement since May 2011 when 92,000 head were placed. Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head placed 55,000 head, down 25 percent from last month and down 20 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head placed 51,000 head. This is down 15 percent from last month and down 32 percent from last year.

Marketings for April were 137,000 head, down 5 percent from last month and down 6 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head marketed 72,000 head, up 1 percent from last month but down 5 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head marketed 65,000 head, down 11 percent from last month and down 7 percent from last year. Other disappearance totaled 4,000 head.

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