(NDAgConnection.com) – Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 12.0 million head on May 1, 2022. The inventory was 2 percent above May 1, 2021. This is the highest May 1 inventory since the series began in 1996.

Placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.81 million head, 1 percent below 2021. Net placements were 1.76 million head. During April, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 355,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 270,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 415,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 489,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 210,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 70,000 head.

Marketings of fed cattle during April totaled 1.89 million head, 2 percent below 2021.

Other disappearance totaled 54,000 head during April, 2 percent below 2021.