Cattle on Feed Drops 1 Percent in U.S.

WASHINGTON - Apr 20/07 - SNS -- Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head came in at 11.6 million head on April 1, 2007, reveals the current USDA statistics.

The inventory was 1% below April 1, 2006 but 7% above April 1, 2005. This is the second highest April 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. The inventory included 7.43 million steers and steer calves, down 4% from a year ago. This group accounted for 64% of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.14 million head, up 4% from 2006.

Placements in feedlots within March totalled 1.97 million, 7% above 2006 and 12% above 2005. Net placements were 1.89 million. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 350,000, 600-699 pounds were 375,000, 700-799 pounds were 640,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 600,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during March totalled 1.85 million, down 6% from 2006 and 6% below 2005. Other disappearance totalled 72,000 during March, 20% below 2006 but 6% above 2005.

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