July 27, 2010

US cattle on feed up 3% in June

US cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totalled 10.1 million head on July 1, a 3% rise on-year, according to the USDA's Agricultural Statistics Board.

Included in the inventory were 6.25 million steers and steer calves, up 4% from the previous year. This group accounted for 62% of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.77 million head, up 1% from 2009.

Feedlot placements during June totalled 1.63 million, 17% above 2009. Net placements were 1.57 million head.

During June, marketings of fed cattle totalled two million, slightly above 2009. Other disappearance totalled 55,000 during June, 4% below 2009.

Cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 or more head accounted for 84% of the total US cattle on feed on July 1, down slightly on-year.