Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.4 million head on June 1, 2009. The inventory was 4 percent below June 1, 2008.
Placements in feedlots during May totaled 1.64 million, 14 percent below 2008. Net placements were 1.54 million head. This is the second lowest placements for the month of May since the series began in 1996. During May, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 395,000, 600-699 pounds were 305,000, 700-799 pounds were 433,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 505,000.
Marketings of fed cattle during May totaled 1.95 million, 9 percent below 2008. This is the lowest fed cattle marketings for the month of May since the series began in 1996.