050426 U.S. Cattle on Feed RisesApril 23, 2005Washington - The number of cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.9 million head on April 1, 2005, according to the USDA. The inventory was 1% above April 1, 2004 and 1% above April 1, 2003. The inventory included 6.99 million steers and steer calves, up 5% from the previous year. This group accounted for 64% of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.80 million head, down 6% from 2004. Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.76 million, 3% below 2004 and 13% below 2003. This is the second lowest placements for the month of March since the series began in 1996. Net placements were 1.69 million. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 299,000, 600-699 pounds were 320,000, 700-799 pounds were 614,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 527,000.
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