Iowa Cattle on Feed down 6 percent

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Iowa for all feedlots totaled 1.30 million head on January 1, 2011, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Iowa Field Office.

The inventory was up 1 percent from December 1, 2011, but down 6 percent from January 1, 2011. Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head had 620,000 head on feed, up 2 percent from last month and down 3 percent from last year.

Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head had 680,000 head on feed, unchanged from last month but down 8 percent from last year. Placements during December totaled 172,000 head, a decrease of 44 percent from last month and down 29 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head placed 77,000 head, down 46 percent from last month and down 17 percent from last year.

Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head placed 95,000 head. This is down 42 percent from last month and down 37 percent from last year. Marketings for December were 153,000 head, down 19 percent from last month but up 9 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head marketed 63,000 head, down 37 percent from last month and down 21 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head marketed 90,000 head, unchanged from last month but up 50 percent from last year. Other disappearance totaled 9,000 head.