May 25, 2007

Nebraska feedlots with capacities of 1,000 or more head contained 2.42 million cattle on feed on May 1, up 4% from last year and 11% above May 1, 2005. This was the largest May 1 inventory since the data set began in 1994.

Placements of cattle into feedlots during April totaled 290,000 head, down 9% from both 2006 and 2005. Fed cattle marketings during April totaled 340,000 head, down 13% from last year and 11% below April of 2005. Other disappearance during April totaled 10,000 head, the same as April 2006 and 2005.

Nationally, in the same category, cattle on feed for slaughter market totaled 11.3 million head, down 2% from last year and 6% below 2005. This was the second highest May 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. Placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.57 million, 3% below 2006 and 5% below 2005. Marketings of fed cattle during April totaled 1.82 million, 2% above 2006 and 1% above 2005. Other disappearance totaled 99,000 during April, 14% above 2006 and 9% above 2005.%