Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Iowa for all feedlots totaled 1,290,000 on December 1, 2012 according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Iowa Field Office. The inventory is up 7 percent from November 1, 2012 but unchanged from December 1, 2011. Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head had 610,000 head on feed, up 3 percent from last month but unchanged from last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head had 680,000 head on feed, up 11 percent from last month but unchanged from last year.

Placements during November totaled 272,000 head, a decrease of 2 percent from last month and down 12 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head placed 123,000 head, down 16 percent from last month and down 14 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head placed 149,000 head. This is up 13 percent from last month but down 10 percent from last year.

Marketings for November were 179,000 head, down 18 percent from last month and down 6 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head marketed 100,000 head, down 30 percent from last month but unchanged from last year. Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head marketed 79,000 head, up 5 percent from last month but down 12 percent from last year. Other disappearance totaled 8,000 head.