Source:  Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 2/21/11

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.6 million head on Feb.1, 2011. The inventory was 6 percent above Feb. 1, 2010, according to USDA’s monthly Cattle On Feed report.

Market analysts polled by Dow Jones were expecting on average a 5.1 percent increase.
Placements in feedlots during January totaled 1.90 million, 4 percent above 2010. Net placements were 1.84 million head. Analysts were expecting a 3.5 percent increase in placements.

During January, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds totaled 465,000 head, while 600-699 pounds totaled 475,000. Cattle 700-799 pounds totaled 547,000 and those 800 pounds and greater totaled 410,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during January totaled 1.78 million, slightly above 2010 and in line with market expectations.

Other disappearance totaled 56,000 during January, 20 percent below 2010. This is the lowest other disappearance for the month of January since the series began in 1996.

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