September 23, 2008
US cattle on feed continues to slide
US cattle on feed on feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.0 million head, 3 percent below figures below last year and 9 percent below the figure in 2006.
Placements in feedlots in August was also down, totaling 2.06 million, 3 percent below 2007 and 10 percent below 2006.
Net placements for the month were 2.01 million head, the second lowest placements for the month of August since the series began in 1996.
Marketing of fed cattle during August also hit the lowest since 1996, totalling 1.88 million, 9 percent below 2007 and 9 percent below 2006.
Other disappearance totaled 49,000 during August, 2 percent below 2007 and 17 percent below 2006.
Placement of cattle in August
Cattle weight |
Heads |
< 600 pounds |
365,000 |
600-699 pounds |
410,000 |
700-799 pounds |
566,000 |
> 800 pounds |
720,000 |