Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.4 million head on October 1, 2006. The inventory was 9 percent above October 1, 2005 and 8 percent above October 1, 2004. This is the highest October 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. The inventory included 7.20 million steers and steer calves, up 5 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 63 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.12 million head, up 16 percent from 2005.

Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.23 million, 5 percent below 2005 and 6 percent below 2004. Net placements were 2.16 million head. During September, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 725,000, 600-699 pounds were 412,000, 700-799 pounds were 450,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 645,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.77 million, 3 percent below 2005 and 2 percent below 2004. This is the second lowest fed cattle marketings for the month of September since the series began in 1996.

Other disappearance totaled 68,000 during September, 19 percent above 2005 and 11 percent above 2004.

1000+ Capacity Feedlots

1000+ Capacity Feedlots Number Placed

1000+ Capacity Feedlots Number Marketed

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