By Scout Nelson
In South Dakota's feedlots, which have the capacity to handle 1,000 or more cattle, there were 245,000 cattle on feed as of May 1, 2024. This represents an 11% increase compared to the previous year, showcasing a growth in cattle numbers in these large facilities.
During April, the feedlots saw placements of 30,000 head, which is slightly lower by 3% than the numbers from 2023. Despite this small drop in placements, the number of fed cattle that were marketed in April reached 34,000 head, marking a 13% increase from last year. This suggests a higher turnover rate of cattle being prepared and sold from feedlots.
The report also notes that the number of cattle that disappeared from records for various reasons like deaths or transfers remained stable at 1,000 head, unchanged from the previous year.
For more details, access the national publication for this release at the USDA's library site: USDA Report on Cattle on Feed.
Photo Credit -gettyimages-imaginegolf
Categories: South Dakota, Livestock, Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle