WASHINGTON – On Feb. 1, cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.8 million head, up 2 percent from the Feb. 1, 2011, inventory, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Agricultural Statistics Board, US Department of Agriculture.

During January, feedlot placements totaled 1.85 million, 2 percent less than the January 2011, total. Net placements totaled 1.77 million head. Totals of placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 lbs. during January, were 445,000; 600-699 lbs., 430,000; 700-799 lbs., 525,000; and 800 lbs. or more, 447,000.

Also during January, fed cattle marketings totaled 1.82 million, 2 percent more than the January 2011, total. Other disappearance during the month totaled 81,000, 42 percent more than January 2011.

Meanwhile, on Jan. 1 cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the US for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head represented 84.0 percent of all cattle and calves on feed in the US, an increase from 82.2 on tallied on Jan. 1, 2011.

During 2011, fed cattle marketings for feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head represented 87.7 percent of all cattle marketed from feedlots in the US, which is an increase from 84.6 percent posted one year earlier.