California Cattle on Feed / Commercial Slaughter / Quarterly Milk Production Report

Dan Cattle, Commodity Report

cattleCattle and calves on feed for slaughter in California feedlots totaled 435,000 head on July 1, 2014, the same as last month, and 16 percent lower than July 2013. During June, placements of 45,000 head were 26 percent below the previous year. Marketings of 40,000 head were 24 percent below June 2013. Other disappearance totaled 5,000 head.

Commercial Slaughter

California’s production of red meat during June 2014 totaled 99.1 million pounds (dressed weight), 21 percent lower than the previous month, and 29 percent lower than June 2013. This figure includes slaughter in Federally-inspected and State-inspected plants, but excludes slaughter done on farms. In June 2014, the average live weight of cattle slaughtered in California was 1,305 pounds, calves 98 pounds, sheep & lambs 140 pounds, and hogs 252 pounds.

Quarterly Milk Production

California: Milk production in California for the April – June quarter totaled 11.0 billion pounds, 1 percent higher than the same quarter last year. The average number of milk cows on farms was 1,779,000 head.

The full Cattle on Feed Report for the Pacific Region can be read here. (.pdf)