Cattle on feed for slaughter on April 1 amounted to 11.2 million head. The inventory was 5% below April 1, 2008, and included 6.98 million steers and steer calves, also down 5% on the previous year. This group accounted for 63% of the total. Heifers and heifer calves at 4.12 million head were down 4%. Placements in feedlots during March totalled 1.8 million, 4% up on 2008 while marketing of fed cattle during March totalled 1.83 million, down 1%.
Export sales of raw hides during the period under review showed China in their regular top position with 1,041,700 (908,600, 664,000, 804,200). With Hong Kong taking 55,000 (88,200, 75,500) the region took a combined total of 1,096,700 (996,800, 739,500).
Korea was again in second place with 665,500 (522,000, 486,500). Taiwan came next with 247,400 (265,600, 107,400) followed by Thailand with 180,500 (47,100).
Mexico was in fifth place with 74,200 (84,800, 75,400, 94,000) and Japan was in seventh slot with 36,500 (42,100, 80,100). Canada followed with 21,100 (10,800, 29,700), Vietnam with 19,100 (50,400, 21,700, 3,600) and Italy 12,200 (3,000, 24,900, 7,900, 10,000, 5,000).
Sales of wet-blue for export during the period under review showed China in the lead with 300,900 (233,300, 132,800). Italy came a strong second with 254,900 (6,400, 32,800, 128,800, 90,500, 43,800).
Mexico took third place with 86,400 (87,600, 45,800); Vietnam 39,500 (12,000, 12,900); Thailand 32,200 (4,000) and Taiwan 15,900 (311,100, 14,300).
FIS figures drop further
Federally Inspected Slaughter in the four week period ended April 17, 2009, amounted to an average kill of 603,000 (614,000) and was down 5.7% on the previous year (642,500).