Cattle on Feed Rises 1 Percent in U.S.

WASHINGTON - Jan 26/07 - SNS -- Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totalled 12.0 million head on January 1, 2007, shows this USDA data.

The inventory was 1% above January 1, 2006 and 6% above January 1, 2005. This is the highest January 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. The inventory included 7.57 million steers and steer calves, up somewhat from last year. This group accounted for 63% of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.30 million head, up 4% from January 1, 2006.

Placements in feedlots throughout December totalled 1.71 million, 9% below 2005 and 7% below 2004. Net placements were 1.63 million. During December, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 470,000, 600-699 pounds were 504,000, 700-799 pounds were 420,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 320,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during December totalled 1.63 million, 5% below 2005 and 9% below 2004. This is the lowest fed cattle marketings for the month of December since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totalled 88,000 during December, 3% below 2005 and 4% below 2004.

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