U.S. cattle on feed down 7 percent

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 March 1, 2013. The inventory was 7 percent below March 1, 2012.

Placements in feedlots during February totaled 1.48 million, 14 percent below 2012. Net placements were 1.42 million head. During February, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 355,000, 600-699 pounds were 270,000, 700-799 pounds were 407,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 450,000. Placements are the lowest for February since the series began in 1996.

Marketings of fed cattle during February totaled 1.64 million, 7 percent below 2012.

Other disappearance totaled 60,000 during February, 35 percent below 2012.