Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released April 20, 2018, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Up 7 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 11.7 million head on April 1, 2018. The inventory was 7 percent above April 1, 2017. This is the second highest April 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. The inventory included 7.54 million steers and steer calves, up 4 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 64 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.19 million head, up 14 percent from 2017. Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.92 million head, 9 percent below 2017. Net placements were 1.85 million head. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 315,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 285,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 530,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 531,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 185,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 75,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.84 million head, 4 percent below 2017. Other disappearance totaled 67,000 head during March, 20 percent above 2017. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: April 1, 2017 and 2018 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2017 : 2018 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed March 1 ........................: 10,772 11,715 109 Placed on feed during March ............: 2,117 1,921 91 Fed cattle marketed during March .......: 1,914 1,840 96 Other disappearance during March .......: 56 67 120 On feed April 1 ........................: 10,919 11,729 107 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: March 1, 2017 and 2018 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2017 : 2018 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed February 1 .....................: 10,782 11,630 108 Placed on feed during February .........: 1,694 1,817 107 Fed cattle marketed during February ....: 1,648 1,675 102 Other disappearance during February ....: 56 57 102 On feed March 1 ........................: 10,772 11,715 109 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: April 1, 2017 and 2018 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :--------------------------------------------------------- : 2017 : 2018 :previous year : inventory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head --- percent percent : Class on feed April 1 : Steers and steer calves ..............: 7,240 7,535 104 64 Heifers and heifer calves ............: 3,679 4,194 114 36 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2017 and 2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : April 1, 2018 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : April 1, 2017 : March 1, 2018 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 239 285 294 123 103 California .......: 415 490 500 120 102 Colorado .........: 940 950 950 101 100 Idaho ............: 260 255 250 96 98 Iowa .............: 670 730 740 110 101 Kansas ...........: 2,260 2,350 2,340 104 100 Minnesota ........: 160 165 160 100 97 Nebraska .........: 2,460 2,690 2,690 109 100 Oklahoma .........: 300 315 310 103 98 South Dakota .....: 250 270 260 104 96 Texas ............: 2,460 2,680 2,700 110 101 Washington .......: 195 210 210 108 100 : Other States .....: 310 325 325 105 100 : United States ....: 10,919 11,715 11,729 107 100 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2017 and 2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During March 2018 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2017 :February 2018 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 26 30 34 131 113 California .......: 59 59 68 115 115 Colorado .........: 205 165 165 80 100 Idaho ............: 46 34 29 63 85 Iowa .............: 116 118 107 92 91 Kansas ...........: 490 420 405 83 96 Minnesota ........: 23 16 17 74 106 Nebraska .........: 495 440 480 97 109 Oklahoma .........: 73 46 53 73 115 South Dakota .....: 39 46 27 69 59 Texas ............: 460 365 455 99 125 Washington .......: 42 36 29 69 81 : Other States .....: 43 42 52 121 124 : United States ....: 2,117 1,817 1,921 91 106 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2017 and 2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During March 2017 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs : 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800-899 lbs : 900+ lbs1/ : 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 65 55 25 (D) (D) 205 Kansas ........: 60 75 150 145 60 (D) (D) 490 Nebraska ......: 50 65 135 150 95 (D) (D) 495 Texas .........: 110 75 140 110 25 (D) (D) 460 : Other States ..: 100 50 140 130 47 (D) (D) 467 : United States .: 350 295 630 590 (X) 185 67 2,117 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During February 2018 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ......: 20 35 40 45 25 (D) (D) 165 Kansas ........: 45 70 155 105 45 (D) (D) 420 Nebraska ......: 30 75 140 125 70 (D) (D) 440 Texas .........: 125 80 90 55 15 (D) (D) 365 : Other States ..: 105 75 112 90 45 (D) (D) 427 : United States .: 325 335 537 420 (X) 150 50 1,817 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During March 2018 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 25 40 50 25 (D) (D) 165 Kansas ........: 40 55 125 125 60 (D) (D) 405 Nebraska ......: 35 75 115 150 105 (D) (D) 480 Texas .........: 115 85 135 95 25 (D) (D) 455 : Other States ..: 100 45 115 111 45 (D) (D) 416 : United States .: 315 285 530 531 (X) 185 75 1,921 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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: 2017 and 2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During March 2018 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2017 :February 2018 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 28 24 24 86 100 California .......: 62 51 55 89 108 Colorado .........: 170 170 160 94 94 Idaho ............: 34 36 32 94 89 Iowa .............: 93 106 93 100 88 Kansas ...........: 430 380 400 93 105 Minnesota ........: 22 20 21 95 105 Nebraska .........: 465 410 465 100 113 Oklahoma .........: 67 50 57 85 114 South Dakota .....: 38 35 36 95 103 Texas ............: 425 320 420 99 131 Washington .......: 30 30 28 93 93 : Other States .....: 50 43 49 98 114 : United States ....: 1,914 1,675 1,840 96 110 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2017 and 2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During March 2018 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2017 :February 2018 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 2 3 3 150 100 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 2 3 2 100 67 Iowa .............: 3 2 4 133 200 Kansas ...........: 10 10 15 150 150 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 10 10 15 150 150 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 1 1 1 100 100 Texas ............: 15 15 15 100 100 Washington .......: 2 1 1 50 100 : Other States .....: 3 4 3 100 75 : United States ....: 56 57 67 120 118 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States: 2017 and 2018 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers and steer calves : Heifers and heifer calves :----------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Apr 1, : Jan 1, : Apr 1, : Apr 1, : Jan 1, : Apr 1, : 2017 : 2018 : 2018 : 2017 : 2018 : 2018 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ............: 228 258 284 11 11 10 California .........: 390 440 450 25 50 50 Colorado ...........: 605 565 535 335 405 415 Idaho ..............: 180 175 170 80 80 80 Iowa ...............: 500 530 540 170 170 200 Kansas .............: 1,230 1,190 1,240 1,030 1,100 1,100 Minnesota ..........: 132 127 131 28 33 29 Nebraska ...........: 1,640 1,640 1,760 820 970 930 Oklahoma ...........: 185 185 165 115 130 145 South Dakota .......: 145 145 150 105 105 110 Texas ..............: 1,680 1,730 1,760 780 910 940 Washington .........: 125 140 140 70 70 70 : Other States .......: 200 210 210 110 120 115 : United States ......: 7,240 7,335 7,535 3,679 4,154 4,194 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 11.7 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 1,000 head, ranging from 0 to 15,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 1 time and has been below the latest estimate 2 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 ---- : Number on feed ...............: 0.0 0.1 1 0 15 2 1 : Placements ...................: 0.2 0.4 2 0 15 2 2 : Marketings ...................: 0.1 0.2 0 0 10 0 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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@nass.usda.gov. Travis Averill, Chief, Livestock Branch ......... (202) 720-3570 Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ........... (202) 690-2424 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ...... (202) 720-3240 Holly Brenize - Sheep and Goats .............. (202) 720-0585 Donnie Fike - Dairy Products ................. (202) 690-3236 Heidi Gleich - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ........ (202) 720-3040 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 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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