Cattle on feed are animals being fed a ration of grain, silage, hay and/or protein supplement for slaughter market that are expected to produce a carcass that will grade select or better. It excludes cattle being "backgrounded only" for later sale as feeders or later placement in another feedlot.
Placements are cattle put into a feedlot, fed a ration which will produce a carcass that will grade select or better, and are intended for the slaughter market.
Marketings are cattle shipped out of feedlots to a slaughter market.
Other disappearance includes death loss, movement from feedlots to pasture, and shipments to other feedlots for further feeding.