February 27, 2007

U.S. cattle on feed down three percent

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totalled 11.7 million head on February 1, 2007, according to statistics released by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

The inventory was three percent below February 1, 2006 but three percent above February 1, 2005.

Placements in feedlots during January totalled 1.69 million, 23 percent below 2006 and 10 percent below 2005.

Net placements were 1.59 million. This is the second lowest placement for the month of January since the series began in 1996.

During January, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 320,000; 600 to 699 pounds were 390,000; 700 to 799 pounds were 545,000; and 800 pounds and greater were 435,000.

Market of fed cattle during January totalled 1.84 million, up two percent from 2006 and up 4 percent from 2005.