According to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Friday report, cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.6 million head on Jan. 1, 2017. The inventory was slightly above Jan. 1, 2016, and included 7.02 million steers and steer calves, down 2 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 66 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.58 million head, up 5 percent from 2016. Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.80 million head, 18 percent above 2015. Net placements were 1.74 million head. During December, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 435,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 450,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 450,000 head, and 800 pounds and greater were 460,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during December totaled 1.79 million head, 7 percent above 2015. Click here to download the full report (PDF)…