WASHINGTON – Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter in feedlots with capacity for 1,000 or more head was slightly higher on Nov. 1 compared to a year ago, the US Department of Agriculture noted in its Cattle on Feed report.

Cattle and calves on feed for Nov. 1 totaled 10.6 million head, compared to 10.59 million head on Nov. 1, 2013.


Placements in feedlots in October declined 1 percent to 2.36 million, while net placements totaled 2.26 million head, USDA reported. For October, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 lbs. were 690,000; 600-699 lbs. were 570,000; 700-799 lbs. were 462,000; and 800 lbs. and greater were 635,000. USDA noted that October placements are the second lowest since the series began in 1996.

Slaughter of fed cattle during October dropped 8 percent to 1.69 million head. October slaughter figures are the lowest since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 97,000 during October, 28 percent above 2013, USDA reported.