Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter
market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head
totaled 11.5 million head on Jan. 1, up 8 percent above Jan. 1, 2017.
The inventory included 7.34 million steers and
steer calves, up 4 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 64
percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.15
million head, up 16 percent from 2017.
Placements in feedlots during December totaled
1.80 million head, 1 percent above 2016. Net placements were 1.73 million head.
During December, placements of cattle and
calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 470,000 head, 600-699 pounds were
410,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 445,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 279,000
head, 900-999 pounds were 100,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were
95,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during December
totaled 1.75 million head, 1 percent below 2016.
Other disappearance totaled 74,000 head during
December, 35 percent above 2016.