According to USDA, there are 12 million cattle on feed for slaughter as of April 1. This is a two percent increase from one year ago, and the highest April 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. The inventory included 7.4 million steers, down one percent from the previous year. Heifers accounted for 4.5 million head, up eight percent from 2018. Placements in feedlots during March totaled 2.01 million head, up five percent from 2018. Net placements were 1.9 million head. March marketings of fed cattle totaled 1.7 million head, a three percent decrease from one year ago.
