Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.4 million head on July 1, 2013. This represents a 3 percent decline in inventory compared to July 1, 2012, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service.
The inventory included 6.53 million steers and steer calves, down 3 percent from a year ago. This group accounted for 63 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.78 million head, down 4 percent from 2012, NASS reported.
Placements in feedlots during June declined to 1.59 million, 5 percent below 2012 levels. Net placements were 1.52 million head, according to NASS. During June, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 lbs. were 315,000, 600-699 lbs. were 232,000, 700-799 lbs. 415,000 and 800 lbs. or greater were 625,000.
Marketings of fed cattle during June eased 4 percent to 1.90 million. NASS reported that marketings for June were the lowest since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance in June fell 5 percent to 63,000.
