No Surprises in Cattle on Feed Report

Cattle and calves on feed in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10 million on Sept. 1.  This was 12,000 more than a year ago.

August placements were the lowest since the price series began in 1996, totaling 1.99 million.  This was 5 percent below 2004 and 16 percent below 2003. 

Placements of cattle 800 pounds or more were up 6 percent to 650,000 head.

Placements of cattle in the other weight categories were well below a year ago. The largest year-to-year decline was in the 600 pounds or less group, which was down 17 percent.

Other placements were:  600-699 pounds, 385,000;   700-799 pounds, 540,000.

Cattle feeders marketed 2.03 million head compared to 1.93 million head a year ago, an increase of 5.5 percent.  However, there was one more slaughter day in August 2005 than a year ago. Thus on a daily average basis, feedlot marketings were up 1 percent.