California Cattle on Feed

Dan Cattle, Commodity Report, Dairy & Livestock, Hogs & Pork

herd of cattle in outdoor feedlotCattle and calves on feed for slaughter in California feedlots totaled 415,000 head on October 1, 2014, unchanged from last month, and 16 percent lower than October 2013. During September, placements of 43,000 head were 4 percent below the previous year. Marketings of 38,000 head were 28 percent below September 2013. Other disappearance totaled 5,000 head.

United States 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 10.1 million head on October 1, 2014. The inventory was 1 percent below October 1, 2013. The inventory included 6.46 million steers and steer calves, up 1 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 64 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.55 million head, down 3 percent from 2013.

Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.01 million, 1 percent above 2013. Net placements were 1.94 million head. During September, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 460,000, 600-699 pounds were 340,000, 700-799 pounds were 437,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 770,000. For the month of September, placements are the second lowest since the series began in 1996.

Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.68 million, 1 percent below 2013.

Other disappearance totaled 65,000 during September, 5 percent above 2013.

Pacific Region – Commercial Slaughter

California’s production of red meat during September 2014 totaled 109.7 million pounds (dressed weight), 9 percent higher than the previous month, but 22 percent lower than September 2013. This figure includes slaughter in Federally-inspected and State-inspected plants, but excludes slaughter done on farms. In September 2014, the average live weight of cattle slaughtered in California was 1,312 pounds, calves 99 pounds, sheep & lambs 131 pounds, and hogs 253 pounds.

In Nevada, 100,000 pounds of red meat were produced in September 2014, and 700,000 pounds were produced in Hawaii.

Red Meat Production Up 1 Percent from Last Year

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 3.96 billion pounds in September, up 1 percent from the 3.94 billion pounds produced in September 2013.

Beef production, at 2.07 billion pounds, was slightly below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.53 million head, down 3 percent from September 2013. The average live weight was up 31 pounds from the previous year, at 1,344 pounds.

Veal production totaled 7.2 million pounds, 16 percent below September a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 42,300 head, down 33 percent from September 2013. The average live weight was up 57 pounds from last year, at 291 pounds.

Pork production totaled 1.87 billion pounds, up 2 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 8.83 million head, down 2 percent from September 2013. The average live weight was up 10 pounds from the previous year, at 283 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 12.3 million pounds, was up 5 percent from September 2013. Sheep slaughter totaled 191,900 head, 4 percent above last year. The average live weight was 128 pounds, up 2 pounds from September a year ago.

January to September 2014 commercial red meat production was 35.1 billion pounds, down 4 percent from 2013. Accumulated beef production was down 6 percent from last year, veal was down 13 percent, pork was down 1 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down slightly.

September 2013 contained 21 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.

September 2014 contained 22 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.

United States Hog Inventory Down 2 Percent

United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on September 1, 2014 was 65.4 million head. This was down 2 percent from September 1, 2013, but up 6 percent from June 1, 2014.

Breeding inventory, at 5.92 million head, was up 2 percent from last year and up 1 percent from the previous quarter.

Market hog inventory, at 59.4 million head, was down 3 percent from last year, but up 7 percent from last quarter.
The June-August 2014 pig crop, at 29.5 million head, was down 1 percent from 2013. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.91 million head, up 1 percent from 2013. The sows farrowed during this quarter represented 50 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was 10.16 for the June-August period, compared to 10.33 last year. Pigs saved per litter by size of operation ranged from 8.00 for operations with 1-99 hogs and pigs to 10.20 for operations with more than 5,000 hogs and pigs.

Pacific Region – Milk Production

California milk producers produced 3.29 billion pounds of milk in September 2014. This was 5 percent below August 2014 but 3 percent above September 2013.
Monthly milk per cow averaged 1,850 pounds, 90 pounds less than August 2014.