United States Cattle on Feed up 3 percent

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.9 million head on January 1, 2012. The inventory was 3 percent above January 1, 2011. The inventory included 7.28 million steers and steer calves, up 1 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 61 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.50 million head, up 6 percent from 2011.

Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.68 million, 6 percent below 2010. Net placements were 1.59 million head. During December, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 550,000, 600-699 pounds were 390,000, 700-799 pounds were 365,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 378,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during December totaled 1.80 million, 2 percent below 2010.

Other disappearance totaled 91,000 during December, 40 percent above 2010.

1. Boxed beef run continues; feedlot inventories down less
2. Meat and poultry trends in the U.S.
3. Corn and soybean prices continue to retrace 2012 drought rally
4. Ag markets generally mixed to start this week
5. USDA announces Conservation Reserve Program sign-up
6. Survey reveals most Americans in favor of COOL

1. Ag markets were mixed to start the new week
2. U.S. cattle placements rise in April as feed costs subside
3. Schwieterman: Cattle futures end week with sharp losses
4. Insects. They’re what’s for dinner!
5. The relationship between retail gasoline prices and futures prices
6. New school lunch beef recipes win approval from kids, foodservice

1. Tyson selects panel to monitor animal welfare program
2. Buffet concerned about soil and starvation
3. 2014 Farm Bill: Are we near an agreement?
4. BeefTalk: How do we get the next generation to raise beef?
5. Farm bill and immigration reform action needed
6. Boxed beef hits record highs, cattle weak to lower