Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released April 23, 2021, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Up 5 Percent Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.9 million head on April 1, 2021. The inventory was 5 percent above April 1, 2020. This is the second highest April 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. The inventory included 7.41 million steers and steer calves, up 5 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 62 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.49 million head, up 7 percent from 2020. Placements in feedlots during March totaled 2.00 million head, 28 percent above 2020. Net placements were 1.94 million head. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 405,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 325,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 510,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 522,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 175,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 60,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 2.04 million head, 1 percent above 2020. Marketings were the second highest for March since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 60,000 head during March, 2 percent below 2020. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: April 1, 2020 and 2021 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2020 : 2021 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed March 1 ........................: 11,811 12,000 102 Placed on feed during March ............: 1,557 1,997 128 Fed cattle marketed during March .......: 2,010 2,040 101 Other disappearance during March .......: 61 60 98 On feed April 1 ........................: 11,297 11,897 105 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: March 1, 2020 and 2021 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2020 : 2021 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed February 1 .....................: 11,928 12,106 101 Placed on feed during February .........: 1,716 1,691 99 Fed cattle marketed during February ....: 1,775 1,739 98 Other disappearance during February ....: 58 58 100 On feed March 1 ........................: 11,811 12,000 102 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: April 1, 2020 and 2021 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : : :----------------------------- : 2020 : 2021 :previous year : inventory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head --- percent percent : Class on feed April 1 ..................: Steers and steer calves ..............: 7,082 7,407 105 62 Heifers and heifer calves ............: 4,215 4,490 107 38 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2020 and 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : April 1, 2021 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : April 1, 2020 : March 1, 2021 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 262 270 272 104 101 California .......: 535 565 555 104 98 Colorado .........: 960 1,100 1,060 110 96 Idaho ............: 285 290 290 102 100 Iowa .............: 630 630 630 100 100 Kansas ...........: 2,290 2,470 2,480 108 100 Minnesota ........: 130 115 115 88 100 Nebraska .........: 2,390 2,610 2,580 108 99 Oklahoma .........: 305 315 300 98 95 South Dakota .....: 215 245 240 112 98 Texas ............: 2,760 2,870 2,870 104 100 Washington .......: 235 225 205 87 91 : Other States .....: 300 295 300 100 102 : United States ....: 11,297 12,000 11,897 105 99 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2020 and 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During March 2021 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2020 :February 2021 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 31 29 30 97 103 California .......: 62 67 63 102 94 Colorado .........: 135 165 180 133 109 Idaho ............: 28 36 35 125 97 Iowa .............: 69 111 112 162 101 Kansas ...........: 345 380 490 142 129 Minnesota ........: 12 13 15 125 115 Nebraska .........: 380 440 440 116 100 Oklahoma .........: 40 34 55 138 162 South Dakota .....: 23 39 39 170 100 Texas ............: 350 310 465 133 150 Washington .......: 33 25 19 58 76 : Other States .....: 49 42 54 110 129 : United States ....: 1,557 1,691 1,997 128 118 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2020 and 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During March 2020 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs : 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800-899 lbs : 900+ lbs 1/ : 900-999 lbs : 1,000+ lbs : Total --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head : Colorado ......: 25 20 35 35 20 (D) (D) 135 Kansas ........: 40 50 110 100 45 (D) (D) 345 Nebraska ......: 25 45 100 120 90 (D) (D) 380 Texas .........: 115 65 85 65 20 (D) (D) 350 : Other States ..: 105 40 80 82 40 (D) (D) 347 : United States .: 310 220 410 402 (X) 155 60 1,557 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During February 2021 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs : 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800-899 lbs : 900+ lbs 1/ : 900-999 lbs : 1,000+ lbs : Total --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head : Colorado ......: 30 30 40 45 20 (D) (D) 165 Kansas ........: 40 65 125 110 40 (D) (D) 380 Nebraska ......: 30 65 135 135 75 (D) (D) 440 Texas .........: 125 65 70 40 10 (D) (D) 310 : Other States ..: 110 70 95 86 35 (D) (D) 396 : United States .: 335 295 465 416 (X) 125 55 1,691 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During March 2021 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs : 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800-899 lbs : 900+ lbs 1/ : 900-999 lbs : 1,000+ lbs : Total --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head 1,000 head : Colorado ......: 35 30 45 45 25 (D) (D) 180 Kansas ........: 45 75 160 150 60 (D) (D) 490 Nebraska ......: 30 60 115 145 90 (D) (D) 440 Texas .........: 170 100 95 80 20 (D) (D) 465 : Other States ..: 125 60 95 102 40 (D) (D) 422 : United States .: 405 325 510 522 (X) 175 60 1,997 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. (X) Not applicable. 1/ The 900 pounds and greater weight group is the sum of 900-999 pounds and 1,000 pounds and greater weight groups. Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2020 and 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During March 2021 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2020 :February 2021 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 24 24 27 113 113 California .......: 66 56 66 100 118 Colorado .........: 220 180 215 98 119 Idaho ............: 37 35 34 92 97 Iowa .............: 105 99 109 104 110 Kansas ...........: 425 420 470 111 112 Minnesota ........: 16 12 14 88 117 Nebraska .........: 475 430 455 96 106 Oklahoma .........: 54 38 69 128 182 South Dakota .....: 44 36 41 93 114 Texas ............: 460 335 455 99 136 Washington .......: 32 29 38 119 131 : Other States .....: 52 45 47 90 104 : United States ....: 2,010 1,739 2,040 101 117 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2020 and 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During March 2021 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2020 :February 2021 : Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 6 6 7 117 117 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 1 1 1 100 100 Iowa .............: 4 2 3 75 150 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 15 10 15 100 150 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 4 3 3 75 100 Texas ............: 10 15 10 100 67 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 2 2 2 100 100 : United States ....: 61 58 60 98 103 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States: 2020 and 2021 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers and steer calves : Heifers and heifer calves :----------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Apr 1, : Jan 1, : Apr 1, : Apr 1, : Jan 1, : Apr 1, : 2020 : 2021 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 : 2021 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ............: 257 257 267 5 5 5 California .........: 465 470 465 70 85 90 Colorado ...........: 525 630 610 435 480 450 Idaho ..............: 190 150 155 95 135 135 Iowa ...............: 465 445 485 165 165 145 Kansas .............: 1,260 1,340 1,360 1,030 1,160 1,120 Minnesota ..........: 115 95 95 15 20 20 Nebraska ...........: 1,500 1,590 1,590 890 960 990 Oklahoma ...........: 165 190 180 140 135 120 South Dakota .......: 125 140 150 90 105 90 Texas ..............: 1,675 1,770 1,740 1,085 1,100 1,130 Washington .........: 140 130 115 95 105 90 : Other States .......: 200 195 195 100 110 105 : United States ......: 7,082 7,402 7,407 4,215 4,565 4,490 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Terms and Definitions of Cattle on Feed Estimates Cattle on feed are steers and heifers being fed a ration of grain, silage, hay and/or protein supplement for slaughter market that are expected to produce a carcass that will grade select or better. It excludes cattle being "backgrounded only" for later sale as feeders or later placement in another feedlot. Placements are steers and heifers put into a feedlot, fed a ration which will produce a carcass that will grade select or better, and are intended for the slaughter market. Marketings are steers and heifers shipped out of feedlots to a slaughter market. Other disappearance includes death loss, movement from feedlots to pasture, and shipments to other feedlots for further feeding. Statistical Methodology Survey Procedures: During January and July all known feedlots in the United States with capacity of 1,000 or more head are surveyed to provide data for cattle on feed estimates. During the other months, all known feedlots from 16 States are surveyed. The 16 States account for approximately 98 percent of the cattle on feed in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head. Individual State estimates are published monthly for 12 of the 16 States. Data collected from the remaining 4 States are used to establish the "Other States" estimates. These 4 States include Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon, and Wyoming. The "Other States" category represents all cattle on feed with a capacity of 1,000 or more head for the rest of the United States. Estimating Procedures: These cattle on feed estimates were prepared by the Agricultural Statistics Board after reviewing recommendations and analysis submitted by Regional Field Offices. Regional and State survey data were reviewed for reasonableness with each other and with estimates from the previous month when establishing the current estimates. Revision Policy: Revisions to previous estimates are made to improve month to month relationships. Estimates for the previous month are subject to revision in all States each month when current estimates are made. In February, all monthly estimates for the previous year, and the number of feedlots and annual marketings from two years ago are reviewed and subject to revisions. The reviews are primarily based on slaughter data, state check-off or brand data, and any other data that may have been received after the original estimate was made. Estimates will also be reviewed after data from the Census of Agriculture are available. No revisions will be made after that date and estimates become final. Reliability: Since all 1,000+ capacity cattle on feed operators in every State are not included in the monthly survey, survey estimates are subject to sampling variability. Survey results are also subject to non-sampling errors such as omissions, duplications, and mistakes in reporting, recording, and processing the data. The effects of these errors cannot be measured directly. They are minimized through rigid quality controls in the data collection process and through a careful review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness. To assist users in evaluating the reliability of estimates in this report, the "Root Mean Square Error" is shown for selected items in the table on the following page. The "Root Mean Square Error" is a statistical measure based on past performance and is computed using the differences between first and latest estimates. The "Root Mean Square Error" for cattle on feed inventory estimates over the past 24 months is 0.0 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 11.9 million head by more than 0.0 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.1 percent. The table on the following page shows a 24 month record of the range of differences between first and latest estimates for selected items. Using estimates of number on feed as an example, changes between the first estimate and the latest estimate during the past 24 months have averaged 3,000 head, ranging from 0 to 15,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 6 times and has been below the latest estimate 3 times. This does not imply that the initial estimate is likely to understate or overstate final inventory. Reliability of Monthly Cattle on Feed Estimates [Based on data for the past 24 months] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Root mean : 90 percent : Difference between first and latest estimate : square error : confidence : : : : : : : level :------------------------------------------------------------- Item : : : : : : Months : : : : : :------------------------------- : : : Average :Smallest : Largest : Below latest : Above latest -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : percent percent ------- 1,000 ------- ----- number ---- : On feed ......................: 0.0 0.1 3 0 15 3 5 : Placements ...................: 0.3 0.4 3 0 15 7 3 : Marketings ...................: 0.2 0.4 1 0 15 3 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to nass@usda.gov. Travis Averill, Chief, Livestock Branch ......... (202) 692-0069 Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ........... (202) 690-2424 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ...... (202) 690-8632 Ryan Cowen - Cattle, Cattle on Feed .......... (202) 720-3040 Logan Hartley-Sanguinett - Sheep and Goats ... (202) 690-3236 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 Suzanne Richards - Dairy Products ............ (202) 720-4448 Seth Riggins - Hogs and Pigs ................. (202) 720-3106 Access to NASS Reports For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways: All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e- mail subscription. 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