Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.38 million cattle on feed on May 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. The inventory was down 2 percent from last year but 3 percent above May 1, 2006.

Placements in feedlots during April totaled 340,000 head, up 17 percent from 2007 and 6 percent above 2006. This is tied with 1999 for the highest April placements since the data series began in 1993.

Marketings of fed cattle during April totaled 400,000 head, up 18 percent from last year and 3 percent above April two years ago. Other disappearance during April totaled 10,000 head, the same as 2007 and 2006.

U.S. Cattle on Feed down 1 percent

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.1 million head on May 1, 2008. The inventory was 1 percent below May 1, 2007 and 4 percent below May 1, 2006. Placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.54 million, 2 percent below 2007 and 5 percent below 2006.

Marketings of fed cattle during April totaled 2.01 million, 11 percent above 2007 and 13 percent above 2006. This is the highest fed cattle marketings for the month of April since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 75,000 during April, 24 percent below 2007 and 14 percent below 2006.