The USDA says the placements of cattle into feedlots during March 2021 were 1.997 million head, a jump of 28% from March 2020. That is a combination of a steep drop in placements a year ago during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and weather during February of this year that delayed some cattle placements until March. March 2021 placements were slightly below what the USDA reported for March 2019.
By weight, placements of cattle weighing less than 600 pounds were 405,000 head, 600 to 699 pound placements were 325,000 head, and placements of cattle weighing 700 to 799 pounds were 510,000 head, while 800 to 899 pound placements were 522,000 head, the 900 to 999 pound category represented 175,000 head, and placements of cattle weighing 1,000 pounds and heavier were 60,000 head.
