USDA   |   Updated: September 21, 2012

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.6 million head on September 1, 2012. The inventory was 1 percent below September 1, 2011.

Placements in feedlots during August totaled 2.00 million, 11 percent below 2011. This is the second lowest cattle placements for the month of August since the series began in 1996. Net placements were 1.94 million head. During August, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 482,000, 600-699 pounds were 385,000, 700-799 pounds were 475,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 660,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during August totaled 1.96 million, 5 percent below 2011.

Other disappearance totaled 61,000 during August, 15 percent below 2011.