Cattle on Feed Rises Slightly in U.S.

WASHINGTON - Apr 18/08 - 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 11.7 million head on April 1, 2008, judging from today's USDA statistics.

The inventory was a bit above April 1, 2007 but 1% below April 1, 2006. This is the second highest April 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. The inventory included 7.35 million steers and steer calves, down 1% from a year ago. This group accounted for 63 % of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.28 million head, up 3% from 2007. Placements in feedlots during March totalled 1.74 million, 11% below 2007 and 5% below 2006. Net placements were 1.67 million head.

This is the second lowest placements for the month of March since the series began in 1996. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 335,000, 600-699 pounds were 330,000, 700-799 pounds were 561,000 and 800 pounds and greater were 510,000. Marketings of fed cattle during March totalled 1.84 million, slightly below 2007 and 6% below 2006. Other disappearance totalled 63,000 during March, 12% below 2007 and 30% below 2006.

          Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and
                 Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,
                        United States, April 1, 2006-2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     :          Number          : 2008 as % of
                 Item                :------------------------------------------
                                     :  2006  :  2007  :  2008  : 2006  : 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     : ------ 1,000 Head ------      Percent
                                     :
On Feed Mar 1 1/                     : 12,023   11,599   11,853    99      102
Placed on Feed During Mar            :  1,837    1,960    1,736    95       89
Fed Cattle Marketed During Mar       :  1,958    1,843    1,842    94      100
Other Disappearance During Mar 2/    :     90       72       63    70       88
On Feed Apr 1                        : 11,812   11,644   11,684    99      100
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Cattle and calves on feed are animals for slaughter market being fed a
    ration of grain or other concentrates and are expected to produce a carcass
    that will grade select or better.
2/  Includes death loss, movement from feedlots to pasture, and shipments to
    other feedlots for further feeding.

          Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and
                 Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,
                        United States, March 1, 2006-2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     :          Number          : 2008 as % of
                 Item                :------------------------------------------
                                     :  2006  :  2007  :  2008  : 2006  : 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     : ------ 1,000 Head ------      Percent
                                     :
On Feed Feb 1 1/                     : 12,110   11,726   11,966     99     102
Placed on Feed During Feb            :  1,588    1,659    1,723    109     104
Fed Cattle Marketed During Feb       :  1,602    1,711    1,776    111     104
Other Disappearance During Feb 2/    :     73       75       60     82      80
On Feed Mar 1 1/                     : 12,023   11,599   11,853     99     102
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Cattle and calves on feed are animals for slaughter market being fed a
    ration of grain or other concentrates and are expected to produce a carcass
    that will grade select or better.
2/  Includes death loss, movement from feedlots to pasture, and shipments to
    other feedlots for further feeding.

       Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed by Class, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,
                        United States, April 1, 2006-2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     :          Number          : 2008 as % of
                 Item                :------------------------------------------
                                     :  2006  :  2007  :  2008  : 2006  : 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     : ------ 1,000 Head -----       Percent
                                     :
Class on Feed Apr 1                  :
  Steers and Steer Calves            : 7,740    7,433    7,347      95      99
  Heifers and Heifer Calves          : 3,997    4,142    4,276     107     103
  Cows and Bulls                     :    75       69       61      81      88
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