WASHINGON – On April 1, cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.3 million, according to the US Department of Agriculture. The inventory was 5 percent above April 1, 2010.

Included in the inventory were 7.12 million steers and steer calves, up 7 percent from the previous year. They accounted for 63 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.10 million head, up 2 percent from 2010.


During March, placements in feedlots totaled 1.92 million, 3 percent above 2010. Net placements were 1.87 million head. Placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 lbs. during March were 380,000; 600-699 lbs. were 360,000; 700-799 lbs. were 588,000; and 800 lbs. and greater were 590,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.99 million, 4 percent higher than March 2010. This is the second-highest fed cattle marketings for the month of March since the series began in 1996.

Other disappearance totaled 52,000 during March, 13 percent below March 2010.