March 28, 2006

US cattle inventory reaches record 12 million head

US cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 head or more reached 12 million head on Mar 1, 2006, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.

The record inventory was 8 percent more than Mar 1, 2005 and 9 percent more than Mar 1, 2004.

Total placements in feedlots during February 2006 reached 1.6 million, some 5 percent more than 2005 but 1 percent below 2004. Net placements were 1.53 million.

However, total marketings of fed cattle during February reached 1.61 million, 1 percent below 2005 and 5 percent below 2004.