Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for
feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.8 million head on
October 1, 2010. The inventory was 3 percent above October 1, 2009. The
inventory included 6.60 million steers and steer calves, up 3 percent from
the previous year. This group accounted for 61 percent of the total
inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.12 million head, also up
3 percent from 2009.
Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.46 million, 3 percent above
2009. Net placements were 2.41 million head. During September, placements of
cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 510,000, 600-699 pounds
were 455,000, 700-799 pounds were 602,000, and 800 pounds and greater were
895,000.
Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.80 million, 2 percent
above 2009.