Cattle feedlot inventories in the nation’s 13...

Cattle feedlot inventories in the nation’s 13 leading beef states totaled 8.58 million head as of Oct. 1, down 5% from a year ago but 5% more than two years ago, the Agriculture Department said. Only California, Idaho, Kansas, Oklahoma and Washington showed increases from a year ago, while decreases were reported in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Texas. Marketings of fed cattle for slaughter during July, August and September totaled 6.15 million head, a 2% increase from the same period of 1987 and 5% more than in 1986, the report said.