WASHINGTON – Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter at feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head slipped 1 percent to 10.6 million head on May 1, the US Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reported.

April placements in feedlots were down 5 percent to 1.64 million compared to a year ago, according to NASS. For April, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 lbs. were 385,000, 600-699 lbs. were 255,000, 700-799 lbs. were 396,000 and 800 lbs. and greater were 600,000.


Marketings of fed cattle during April declined 2 percent to 1.78 million. NASS noted that marketings for April were the lowest for the month since the reports began in 1996.

Other disappearance totaled 83,000 during April, 20 percent above 2013 figures, NASS said.