U.S. Cattle on Feed Down 6 Percent

The total inventory of cattle on feed reported Oct. 1 was down for the sixth straight month.  Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.4 million head on Oct. 1.  The inventory was 6 percent below a year ago and 5 percent below Oct. 1, 2000. 

The inventory included 6.26 million steers and steer calves, down 6 percent from the previous year.  This group accounted for 60 percent of the total inventory.  Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.08 million head, down 8 percent from 2001.

September placements in feedlots totaled 2.19 million, 2 percent above 2001 but 19 percent below 2000.  Net placements were 2.14 million.  During September, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 614,000, 600-699 pounds were 487,000, 700-799 pounds were 582,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 505,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.85 million, 1 percent above 2001 but 7 percent below 2000.

Cattle on feed in the historic 7 States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 9.09 million, down 5 percent from the previous year and 4 percent below October 1, 2000.  The inventory included 5.41 million steers and steer calves, down 5 percent from the previous year.  This group accounted for 60 percent of the total inventory.  Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.62 million head, down 7 percent from 2001.

Placements in feedlots during September totaled 1.85 million, 2 percent above 2001 but 19 percent below 2000.

Marketings during September totaled 1.57 million, 2 percent above 2001 but 8 percent below 2000.

Other disappearance during September was 45,000 head, 13 percent above 2001 but 6 percent below 2000.