August 21, 2006

US cattle on feed up 7 percent

Cattle in US feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more totaled 10.8 million head on Aug 1, up 7 percent on-year and reached its second highest Aug 1 inventory levels since 1996, according to industry sources.

This reflects higher temperatures and drought conditions in the US pushing more ranchers to sell their cattle early.

Placements in feedlots during July totaled 1.96 million, 17 percent above 2005 levels.

Net placements were 1.91 million. During July, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 570,000, 600-699 pounds were 403,000, 700-799 pounds were 490,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 500,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during July totaled 1.96 million, 2 percent above 2005 levels.