Cattle on Feed Drops 1 Percent in U.S.

WASHINGTON - Jul 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 quantityed to 10.7 million head on July 1, 2007, according to today's USDA data.

The inventory was 1% below July 1, 2006 but 3% above July 1, 2005. The inventory included 6.74 million steers and steer calves, down 5% from the previous year. This group accounted for 63% of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.93 million head, up 6% from 2006.

Placements in feedlots during June totalled 1.66 million, 15% below 2006 and 6% below 2005. Net placements were 1.61 million. During June, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 405,000, 600-699 pounds were 325,000, 700-799 pounds were 457,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 470,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during June totalled 2.14 million, 3% below 2006 but up 3% from 2005. Other disappearance totalled 52,000 during June, down 17% from 2006 and 2005.

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