Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 9/20/10

The number of cattle on feed on Sept. 1, as well as the number placed on feed and the number marketed during August all came in at the high end of analysts’ expectations in USDA’s monthly Cattle on Feed report.

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.2 million head on Sept. 1. The inventory was 3 percent above a year ago. Analysts polled by Dow Jones expected the inventory to be up between 0.5 and 2.5 percent.

Placements in feedlots during August totaled 2.27 million, 7 percent above 2009 and compared to a wide analyst forecast range of between down 4 percent and up 6 percent.

During August, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds totaled
495,000, while those 600-699 pounds totaled 395,000, those 700-799 pounds totaled 565,000, and those 800 pounds and greater totaled 815,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during August totaled 1.92 million, 7 percent above a year ago. Analysts expected marketings to rise between 5 percent and 7.4 percent. Marketings rose in part because there was one more slaughter day this year than there was last August.

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