BROWNFIELD
19/10/2007
The United States Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service reports that as of October 1, 2007, the total number of U.S. cattle on feed was 10.967 million head, compared to 11.385 million a year ago, for a decline of 4%. Before the report, estimates ranged from 94% to 97.1%, with an average guess of 95.7%.
Placements during September came out at 2.425 million head, up 9% from the 2.227 million in September 2006. Analysts were expecting placements to be around 104.9%, in a very wide range of 97.5% to 112.3%.
September marketings were pegged at 1.706 million head, 3% lower than last year. The estimates were for marketings of 94% to 100%, with an average forecast of 96%.
Other disappearances were reported at 54,000 head, compared to 68,000 a year ago.
