Fewer cattle on feed, more to market than last year

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market totaled 10.4 million head on October 1, 2008. The inventory was 5 percent below October 1, 2007 and 9 percent below October 1, 2006. Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.28 million, 6 percent below 2007 but 2 percent above 2006. Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.81 million, 7 percent above 2007 and 3 percent above 2006.