Cattle on Feed Rises 1 Percent in U.S.

WASHINGTON - Dec 21/07 - SNS -- Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totalled 12.1 million head on December 1, 2007, according to the current USDA statistics.

The inventory was 1% above December 1, 2006 and 3% above December 1, 2005. This is the highest December 1 inventory since the series began in 1996.

Placements in feedlots during November totalled 2.12 million, 12% above 2006 and 3% above 2005. Net placements were 2.06 million head. During November, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 685,000, 600-699 pounds were 650,000, 700-799 pounds were 420,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 361,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during November totalled 1.74 million, 3% below 2006 but 2% above 2005. Other disappearance totalled 57,000 during November, 31% below 2006 and 37% below 2005.

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