Spencer, IA: (Jan. 23, 2012) - Cattle & calves on feed in the United States to start the New Year totaled 11.9 million head, up 3 percent from a year ago. In Iowa, the feedlot inventory of 1.3 million was down 3 percent from a year ago for feedlots of over 1000 head.
 
Placements into feedlots during December totaled 1.68 million nationally, 6 percent below 2010. Placements into Iowa feedlots during December were down 17 percent from a year ago.
 
Nationally, cattle marketings were down 2-percent compared to December of 2010. Cattle marketed by Iowa’s big feedlots were down 21-percent, compared to one year ago.