WASHINGTON – Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter in the United States totaled 10.0 million head on Aug. 1, 2013, a 6 percent declined compared to a year ago, the US Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service reported. The figure represents cattle in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head.

Placements in feedlots during July dropped 10 percent to 1.72 million, according to NASS. Net placements were 1.66 million head. For July, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 lbs. were 390,000, 600-699 lbs. were 275,000, 700-799 lbs. were 455,000 and 800 lbs. and greater were 602,000.


Marketings of fed cattle during July gained 5 percent to total 2.00 million, NASS reported, while, other disappearance totaled 64,000, a 2 percent increase over 2012 levels.