Texas Cattle on Feed down 12 percent

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Texas feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled 2.78 million head on April 1, up slightly from a year ago. According to the monthly report released by the Texas Field Office, the estimate was down 2 percent from the March 1 level.

Producers placed 430 thousand head in commercial feedlots during March, down 12 percent from a year ago, but up 13 percent from the February 2012 total. Texas commercial feeders marketed 470 thousand head during March, down 13 percent from last year but up 13 percent from last month.

On April 1, there were 2.37 million head of cattle and calves on feed in the Northern High Plains, 85 percent of the state=s total. The number on feed across the area was up 1 percent from last year but down 2 percent from the March total. March placements in the Northern High Plains totaled 387 thousand, up 13 percent from the February total. Marketings were up 13 percent from last month to 407 thousand head.

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