Released December 19, 2008, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For
information on "Cattle on Feed" call Jason Hardegree at (202) 720-3040,
office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
U.S. Cattle on Feed Down 6 Percent
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 head on
December 1, 2008. The inventory was 6 percent below December 1, 2007 and
5 percent below December 1, 2006.
Placements in feedlots during November totaled 2.02 million, 5 percent below
2007 but 7 percent above 2006. Net placements were 1.95 million head.
During November, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600
pounds were 565,000, 600-699 pounds were 630,000, 700-799 pounds were
450,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 370,000.
Marketings of fed cattle during November totaled 1.58 million, 9 percent
below 2007 and 12 percent below 2006. This is the second lowest fed cattle
marketings for the month of November since the series began in 1996.
Other disappearance totaled 67,000 during November, 18 percent above 2007 and
19 percent below 2006.
United States Department of Agriculture's cattle on feed update Friday, analysts expect total inventory, marketings and placements to be under last year's levels.
November placements are pegged at 93.8% of a year ago, with a fairly wide range of expectations, running from 90% to 98.9%. That category is expected to be down from last year due to fairly large losses on cattle - the issue is just how much.
Marketings during November are estimated at 88.8% of a year ago as lower placements earlier in the year restrict the amount of cattle marketed.
The average of analysts' estimates for the total amount of cattle on feed as of December 1 is 93.9% of a year ago. The inventory figure is expected to be the lowest December 1 total in a few years on the lower trend in placements and general economic uncertainty.
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