Cattle and calves on feed at feedlots with capacity of 1,000 head or more declined 3 percent Feb. 1 to 10.8 million head, the US Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service reported.
January placements in feedlots totaled 2.03 million, a 9 percent increase above a year ago. Net placements totaled 1.96 million head. During January, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 lbs. were 470,000, 600-699 lbs. were 440,000, 700-799 lbs. were 560,000 and 800 lbs. and greater were 559,000.
January marketings of fed cattle eased 5 percent to total 1.79 million, NASS noted, while other disappearance totaled 71,000 for the month, a 10 percent decline from a year ago.
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter at feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head represented 83.4 percent of all cattle and calves on feed in the United States on Jan. 1, 2014, down from 83.8 a year ago, NASS reported.
Marketings of fed cattle for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head during 2013 represented 87.8 percent of all cattle marketed from US feedlots. This is represents a decrease from 88.5 percent during 2012, according to NASS.
