February 25, 2008

US cattle on feed inches up on February as second highest

US cattle and calves on feed for US feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 12.0 million head on February 1, 2008. 

The US inventory was 2 percent higher on-year, yet 1 percent below February 1, 2006.  This is the second highest February 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. 

Placements in feedlots during January totaled 1.79 million, 6 percent above 2007 but 19 percent below 2006. The net placements total was 1.73 million head. 

Placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 400,000, while 600-699 pounds were at 467,000, 700-799 pounds were 525,000 and 800 pounds or more were 395,000.

Marketing of fed cattle during January totaled 1.86 million, 1 percent above the previous year. 

Other disappearance totaled 60,000 during January, 38 percent below 2007.