Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter at feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head declined 2 percent to 9.8 million head on Aug. 1, the US Department of Agriculture's cattle on feed report.
Placements in feedlots during July dropped 7 percent to 1.56 million head. Net placements were 1.50 million head. For July, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 lbs. were 425,000; 600-699 lbs. were 260,000; 700-799 lbs. were 355,000; and 800 lbs. or greater were 520,000. USDA said placements in July were the lowest since the cattle on feed report began in 1996.
Marketings of fed cattle during July were down 9 percent to 1.79 million. July marketings also were the lowest since the report began in 1996, USDA noted.
Other disappearance totaled 63,000 during July, down 2 percent compared to a year ago.
