WASHINGTON – On Dec. 1, US cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 12.1 million head, up 4 percent above Dec. 1, 2010, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Agricultural Statistics Board, US Department of Agriculture. This marks the second-highest Dec. 1 inventory since the series began in 1996.

During November, placements in feedlots totaled 2.04 million, 4 percent more than November 2010. Net placements totaled 1.94 million head. Placements of cattle and calves during November weighing less than 600 lbs. totaled 755,000; 600-699 lbs. were 499,000; 700-799 lbs. were 375,000; and 800 lbs. and greater totaled 410,000.

Fed cattle marketings in November totaled 1.77 million, which is a little below 2010. Other disappearance during November was 102,000, 65 percent more than 2010.