United States Cattle on Feed down 6 percent

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.2 million head on January 1, 2013. The inventory was 6 percent below January 1, 2012. The inventory included 7.05 million steers and steer calves, down 3 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 63 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.07 million head, down 9 percent from 2012.

Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.66 million, 1 percent below 2011. Net placements were 1.59 million head. During December, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 495,000, 600-699 pounds were 415,000, 700-799 pounds were 379,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 375,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during December totaled 1.75 million, 2 percent below 2011.

Other disappearance totaled 74,000 during December, 19 percent below 2011.

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5. Farm bill and immigration reform action needed
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