By Rita Jane Gabbett on 10/27/2014

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.1 million head on Oct. 1, 2014. The inventory was 1 percent below October 1, 2013, according to USDA’s latest Cattle on Feed report.
The inventory included 6.46 million steers and steer calves, up 1 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 64 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.55 million head, down 3 percent from 2013.
Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.01 million, 1 percent above
2013. Net placements were 1.94 million head. During September, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 460,000, while 600-699 pounds totaled 340,000 and 700-799 pounds totaled 437,000. Those placed at 800 pounds and greater totaled 770,000.
For the month of September, placements are the second lowest since the series began in 1996.
Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.68 million, 1 percent below 2013.
Other disappearance totaled 65,000 during September, 5 percent above 2013.