Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released October 22, 2021, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Down 1 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 11.6 million head on October 1, 2021. The inventory was 1 percent below October 1, 2020. This is the second highest October 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. The inventory included 7.07 million steers and steer calves, down 3 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 61 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.49 million head, up 2 percent from 2020. Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.16 million head, 3 percent below 2020. Net placements were 2.11 million head. During September, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 435,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 360,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 495,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 498,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 275,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 100,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.79 million head, 3 percent below 2020. Other disappearance totaled 58,000 head during September, unchanged from 2020. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: October 1, 2020 and 2021 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2020 : 2021 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed September 1 ....................: 11,394 11,234 99 Placed on feed during September ........: 2,227 2,163 97 Fed cattle marketed during September ...: 1,846 1,789 97 Other disappearance during September ...: 58 58 100 On feed October 1 ......................: 11,717 11,550 99 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: September 1, 2020 and 2021 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2020 : 2021 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed August 1 .......................: 11,284 11,074 98 Placed on feed during August ...........: 2,057 2,103 102 Fed cattle marketed during August ......: 1,892 1,884 100 Other disappearance during August ......: 55 59 107 On feed September 1 ....................: 11,394 11,234 99 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: October 1, 2020 and 2021 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : : :----------------------------- : 2020 : 2021 :previous year : inventory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head --- percent percent : Class on feed October 1 ................: Steers and steer calves ..............: 7,312 7,065 97 61 Heifers and heifer calves ............: 4,405 4,485 102 39 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2020 and 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : October 1, 2021 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : October 1, 2020 :September 1, 2021: : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 257 269 270 105 100 California .......: 545 530 540 99 102 Colorado .........: 1,110 1,080 1,130 102 105 Idaho ............: 270 290 305 113 105 Iowa .............: 610 590 600 98 102 Kansas ...........: 2,540 2,470 2,530 100 102 Minnesota ........: 105 90 90 86 100 Nebraska .........: 2,410 2,280 2,380 99 104 Oklahoma .........: 315 275 295 94 107 South Dakota .....: 190 200 200 105 100 Texas ............: 2,870 2,700 2,730 95 101 Washington .......: 220 195 200 91 103 : Other States .....: 275 265 280 102 106 : United States ....: 11,717 11,234 11,550 99 103 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2020 and 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During September 2021 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :September 2020: August 2021 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 16 19 21 131 111 California .......: 68 52 63 93 121 Colorado .........: 245 215 220 90 102 Idaho ............: 54 53 57 106 108 Iowa .............: 72 77 80 111 104 Kansas ...........: 490 530 505 103 95 Minnesota ........: 19 14 19 100 136 Nebraska .........: 600 560 545 91 97 Oklahoma .........: 62 57 68 110 119 South Dakota .....: 45 44 44 98 100 Texas ............: 450 395 450 100 114 Washington .......: 45 36 35 78 97 : Other States .....: 61 51 56 92 110 : United States ....: 2,227 2,103 2,163 97 103 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2020 and 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During September 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 ......: 30 30 55 65 65 (D) (D) 245 Kansas ........: 65 95 155 115 60 (D) (D) 490 Nebraska ......: 55 60 115 180 190 (D) (D) 600 Texas .........: 175 125 95 45 10 (D) (D) 450 : Other States ..: 120 50 80 112 80 (D) (D) 442 : United States .: 445 360 500 517 (X) 300 105 2,227 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During August 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 60 45 (D) (D) 215 Kansas ........: 65 90 165 140 70 (D) (D) 530 Nebraska ......: 45 50 115 180 170 (D) (D) 560 Texas .........: 160 100 80 45 10 (D) (D) 395 : Other States ..: 100 40 75 108 80 (D) (D) 403 : United States .: 405 310 480 533 (X) 275 100 2,103 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During September 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 25 50 60 55 (D) (D) 220 Kansas ........: 65 100 165 120 55 (D) (D) 505 Nebraska ......: 55 55 100 160 175 (D) (D) 545 Texas .........: 165 130 100 45 10 (D) (D) 450 : Other States ..: 120 50 80 113 80 (D) (D) 443 : United States .: 435 360 495 498 (X) 275 100 2,163 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 September 2021 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :September 2020: August 2021 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 22 23 19 86 83 California .......: 49 54 45 92 83 Colorado .........: 170 170 165 97 97 Idaho ............: 38 37 41 108 111 Iowa .............: 70 85 67 96 79 Kansas ...........: 410 460 435 106 95 Minnesota ........: 23 18 18 78 100 Nebraska .........: 460 470 435 95 93 Oklahoma .........: 56 51 47 84 92 South Dakota .....: 44 37 43 98 116 Texas ............: 415 400 405 98 101 Washington .......: 44 30 29 66 97 : Other States .....: 45 49 40 89 82 : United States ....: 1,846 1,884 1,789 97 95 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2020 and 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During September 2021 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :September 2020: August 2021 : Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 9 8 8 89 100 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 1 1 1 100 100 Iowa .............: 2 2 3 150 150 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 10 10 10 100 100 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 1 2 1 100 50 Texas ............: 15 15 15 100 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 1 2 1 100 50 : United States ....: 58 59 58 100 98 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 : Oct 1, : Jul 1, : Oct 1, : Oct 1, : Jul 1, : Oct 1, : 2020 : 2021 : 2021 : 2020 : 2021 : 2021 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ............: 252 270 265 5 5 5 California .........: 465 455 460 80 85 80 Colorado ...........: 645 595 640 465 465 490 Idaho ..............: 150 155 165 120 125 140 Iowa ...............: 460 470 460 150 130 140 Kansas .............: 1,380 1,300 1,380 1,160 1,150 1,150 Minnesota ..........: 90 85 75 15 15 15 Nebraska ...........: 1,500 1,440 1,400 910 850 980 Oklahoma ...........: 175 155 160 140 120 135 South Dakota .......: 115 125 120 75 75 80 Texas ..............: 1,780 1,650 1,660 1,090 1,120 1,070 Washington .........: 120 105 100 100 85 100 : Other States .......: 180 170 180 95 90 100 : United States ......: 7,312 6,975 7,065 4,405 4,315 4,485 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 11.6 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 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 1 0 15 3 1 : Placements ...................: 0.3 0.4 3 0 15 7 3 : Marketings ...................: 0.2 0.4 1 0 15 4 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 Anthony Fischer - Hogs and Pigs .............. (202) 720-3106 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 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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