Source: MEATINGPLACE, 1/29/18

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.

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