Idaho Cattle on Feed Up 12 Percent from Previous Year

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in Idaho from feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head on January 1, 2011 totaled 240,000 head, up 12 percent from the previous year, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service. The cattle on feed inventory is up 2 percent from December 1, 2010. Placements of cattle in feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head during December totaled 42,000 head, up 1,000 head from December 2009 placements. Marketing of cattle from feedlots with 1,000 head or more during December totaled 35,000 head, same as a year ago. Other disappearance totaled 2,000 head during December.

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.5 million head on January 1,2011. The inventory was 5 percent above January 1,2010. The inventory included 7.18 million steers and steer calves, up 4 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 62 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.26 million head, up 5 percent from 2010. Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.80 million, 16 percent above 2009. Net placements were 1.73 million head. During December, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 480,000, 600-699 pounds were 495,000, 700-799 pounds were 440,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 380,000. Marketing of fed cattle during December totaled 1.83 million, 5 percent above 2009. This is the second highest fed cattle marketing for the month of December since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 65,000 during December, 10 percent below 2009.