WASHINGTON – Cattle on feed for slaughter totaled 10.8 million head on March 1, a 1 percent gain over the comparable year-ago period, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of the US Dept. of Agriculture said in its Cattle on Feed report.

In February, NASS said placements in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head advanced 10 percent above 2015 to 1.71 million head. Net placements were 1.65 million head. Marketings of fed cattle during the month totaled 1.59 million, 5 percent above a year ago, NASS said in its report.

Placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 lbs. were 335,000 head, while placements of animals weighing 600-699 lbs. were 300,000 head. Cattle and calves weighing 700-799 lbs. were 445,000 head, and animals weighing 800 lbs. and greater totaled 630,000 head for the month, NASS said.