Feedlot Populations Drop Five Percent

The rush on the meat case at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic resulted in a significant drop of the nation’s feedlot populations. The USDA’s monthly Cattle on Feed report indicates that the nation’s feedlots started April with 11,297,000 head on hand, down five percent from a year ago. That’s a net decrease of 514 thousand head during the month of March, as a result of marketings exceeding two million head. While marketings were up 13 percent, placements totaled just 1,557,000, a drop of 23 percent. Both percentage figures were stronger than trader estimates.