Cattle on Feed Jump

WASHINGTON - May 19/06 - SNS -- Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.6 million head on May 1, 2006, according to the USDA.

The inventory was 9% above May 1, 2005 and 11% above May 1, 2004. This is the highest May 1 inventory since the series began in 1996.

Placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.63 million, 2% below 2005 but 2% above 2004. Net placements were 1.54 million. During April, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 385,000, 600-699 pounds were 270,000, 700-799 pounds were 444,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 530,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during April totaled 1.79 million, down slightly from 2005 and 5% below 2004. This is the lowest fed cattle marketings for the month of April since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 87,000 during April, 4% below 2005 and 10% below 2004.

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