031039 Cattle On Feed Report Deemed Neutral

Wasington - Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.2 million head on October 1, 2003. The inventory was 2 percent below October 1, 2002 and 8 percent below October 1, 2001. The inventory included 6.24 million steers and steer calves, down slightly from the previous year. This group accounted for 61 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.91 million head, down 4 percent from 2002.

Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.47 million, 13 percent above 2002 and 16 percent above 2001. Net placements were 2.41 million. During September, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 698,000, 600-699 pounds were 545,000, 700-799 pounds were 610,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 621,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 2.03 million, 10 percent above 2002 and 11 percent above 2001. Other disappearance totaled 63,000 during September, 19 percent above 2002 and 37 percent above 2001.

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