Cattle on Feed Drops 4 Percent in U.S.

WASHINGTON - Oct 19/07 - 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 11.0 million head on October 1, 2007, according to today's USDA sector report.

The inventory was 4% below October 1, 2006 but 5% above October 1, 2005. The inventory included 6.83 million steers and steer calves, down 5% from last year. This group accounted for 62% of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.07 million head, down 1% from 2006.

Placements in feedlots within September totalled 2.43 million, 9% above 2006 and 3% above 2005. Net placements were 2.37 million head. During September, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 610,000, 600-699 pounds were 505,000, 700-799 pounds were 570,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 740,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during September totalled 1.71 million, 3% below 2006 and 6% below 2005. This is the second lowest fed cattle marketings for the month of September since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totalled 54,000 during September, 21% below 2006 and 5% below 2005.

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