Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.7 million head on April 1, 2008.The inventory was slightly above April 1, 2007 but 1 percent below April 1, 2006.This is the second highest April 1 inventory since the series began in 1996.The inventory included 7.35 million steers and steer calves, down 1 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 63 percent of the total inventory.Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.28 million head, up 3 percent from 2007.
Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.74 million, 11 percent below 2007 and 5 percent below 2006.Net placements were 1.67 million head.This is the second lowest placements for the month of March since the series began in 1996.During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 335,000, 600-699 pounds were 330,000, 700-799 pounds were 561,000 and 800 pounds and greater were 510,000.
Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.84 million, slightly below 2007 and 6 percent below 2006.
Other disappearance totaled 63,000 during March, 12 percent below 2007 and 30 percent below 2006.