US cattle on feed numbers up 1%.(Markets)(Brief Article)

Agra Europe, April, 2005

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter in the US totalled 10.9 million head on April 1, 2005, up 1% on April 2004, according to the monthly Cattle on Feed report from the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

The numbers included 6.99 million steers and steer calves, up 5% on the previous year, and accounting for 64% of the total inventory.

Heifers and heifer calves totalled 3.80 million head, down 6% year-on-year, indicating that US ranchers are holding on to breeding cattle for herd rebuilding.

Placements in feedlots during March this year totalled 1.76 million head, 3% lower than in March 2004 and 13% below 2003 levels. This was the second lowest March placement numbers since 1996, NASS said.

During March, net...

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