Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released October 20, 2023, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Up 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, 2023. The inventory was 1 percent above October 1, 2022. This is the second highest October 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. The inventory included 6.95 million steers and steer calves, up slightly from the previous year. This group accounted for 60 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.64 million head, up 1 percent from 2022. Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.21 million head, 6 percent above 2022. Net placements were 2.15 million head. During September, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 460,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 355,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 485,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 521,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 290,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 95,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.66 million head, 11 percent below 2022. Other disappearance totaled 57,000 head during September, 8 percent above 2022. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: October 1, 2022 and 2023 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2022 : 2023 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed September 1 ....................: 11,342 11,094 98 Placed on feed during September ........: 2,080 2,206 106 Fed cattle marketed during September ...: 1,860 1,663 89 Other disappearance during September ...: 53 57 108 On feed October 1 ......................: 11,509 11,580 101 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: September 1, 2022 and 2023 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2022 : 2023 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed August 1 .......................: 11,289 11,030 98 Placed on feed during August ...........: 2,110 2,003 95 Fed cattle marketed during August ......: 2,004 1,884 94 Other disappearance during August ......: 53 55 104 On feed September 1 ....................: 11,342 11,094 98 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: October 1, 2022 and 2023 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : : :----------------------------- : 2022 : 2023 :previous year : inventory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head --- percent percent : Class on feed October 1 ................: Steers and steer calves ..............: 6,934 6,945 100 60 Heifers and heifer calves ............: 4,575 4,635 101 40 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2022 and 2023 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : October 1, 2023 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : October 1, 2022 :September 1, 2023: : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 274 244 250 91 102 California .......: 510 515 505 99 98 Colorado .........: 1,070 950 990 93 104 Idaho ............: 290 285 295 102 104 Iowa .............: 620 620 640 103 103 Kansas ...........: 2,360 2,410 2,500 106 104 Minnesota ........: 85 95 95 112 100 Nebraska .........: 2,470 2,270 2,420 98 107 Oklahoma .........: 285 265 290 102 109 South Dakota .....: 185 170 185 100 109 Texas ............: 2,820 2,740 2,850 101 104 Washington .......: 245 245 255 104 104 : Other States .....: 295 285 305 103 107 : United States ....: 11,509 11,094 11,580 101 104 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2022 and 2023 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During September 2023 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :September 2022: August 2023 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 19 21 24 126 114 California .......: 45 48 43 96 90 Colorado .........: 210 125 195 93 156 Idaho ............: 61 48 56 92 117 Iowa .............: 85 75 88 104 117 Kansas ...........: 445 550 505 113 92 Minnesota ........: 14 13 14 100 108 Nebraska .........: 590 510 610 103 120 Oklahoma .........: 52 43 56 108 130 South Dakota .....: 45 35 49 109 140 Texas ............: 410 440 465 113 106 Washington .......: 43 45 43 100 96 : Other States .....: 61 50 58 95 116 : United States ....: 2,080 2,003 2,206 106 110 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2022 and 2023 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During September 2022 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 45 60 50 (D) (D) 210 Kansas ........: 65 95 130 100 55 (D) (D) 445 Nebraska ......: 65 60 105 170 190 (D) (D) 590 Texas .........: 165 105 85 45 10 (D) (D) 410 : Other States ..: 120 45 75 105 80 (D) (D) 425 : United States .: 445 330 440 480 (X) 290 95 2,080 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During August 2023 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 25 30 25 (D) (D) 125 Kansas ........: 65 100 175 145 65 (D) (D) 550 Nebraska ......: 45 45 100 160 160 (D) (D) 510 Texas .........: 190 100 85 55 10 (D) (D) 440 : Other States ..: 95 40 70 98 75 (D) (D) 378 : United States .: 420 305 455 488 (X) 245 90 2,003 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During September 2023 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 40 60 40 (D) (D) 195 Kansas ........: 65 100 160 120 60 (D) (D) 505 Nebraska ......: 65 60 110 180 195 (D) (D) 610 Texas .........: 180 125 95 55 10 (D) (D) 465 : Other States ..: 120 45 80 106 80 (D) (D) 431 : United States .: 460 355 485 521 (X) 290 95 2,206 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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: 2022 and 2023 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During September 2023 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :September 2022: August 2023 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 21 21 17 81 81 California .......: 48 51 46 96 90 Colorado .........: 165 150 150 91 100 Idaho ............: 44 42 44 100 105 Iowa .............: 73 74 67 92 91 Kansas ...........: 455 480 405 89 84 Minnesota ........: 18 12 13 72 108 Nebraska .........: 480 510 450 94 88 Oklahoma .........: 45 32 29 64 91 South Dakota .....: 34 34 33 97 97 Texas ............: 400 405 340 85 84 Washington .......: 37 34 32 86 94 : Other States .....: 40 39 37 93 95 : United States ....: 1,860 1,884 1,663 89 88 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2022 and 2023 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During September 2023 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :September 2022: August 2023 : Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 7 7 7 100 100 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 2 1 2 100 200 Iowa .............: 2 1 1 50 100 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 10 10 10 100 100 Oklahoma .........: 2 1 2 100 200 South Dakota .....: 1 1 1 100 100 Texas ............: 10 15 15 150 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 1 1 1 100 100 : United States ....: 53 55 57 108 104 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States: 2022 and 2023 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers and steer calves : Heifers and heifer calves :----------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Oct 1, : Jul 1, : Oct 1, : Oct 1, : Jul 1, : Oct 1, : 2022 : 2023 : 2023 : 2022 : 2023 : 2023 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ............: 264 239 240 10 10 10 California .........: 435 450 405 75 90 100 Colorado ...........: 590 550 530 480 440 460 Idaho ..............: 155 160 165 135 135 130 Iowa ...............: 475 480 470 145 150 170 Kansas .............: 1,270 1,270 1,350 1,090 1,130 1,150 Minnesota ..........: 70 85 80 15 15 15 Nebraska ...........: 1,490 1,450 1,490 980 880 930 Oklahoma ...........: 155 135 155 130 115 135 South Dakota .......: 105 110 105 80 70 80 Texas ..............: 1,610 1,500 1,630 1,210 1,220 1,220 Washington .........: 130 125 135 115 115 120 : Other States .......: 185 180 190 110 100 115 : United States ......: 6,934 6,734 6,945 4,575 4,470 4,635 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 0.3 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 0.3 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.5 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 21,000 head, ranging from 0 to 65,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 0 times and has been below the latest estimate 14 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 ......................: 0.3 0.5 21 0 65 14 0 : Placements ...................: 0.5 0.9 6 0 23 9 8 : Marketings ...................: 0.1 0.2 1 0 5 3 6 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Kim DaPra - Milk Production and Milk Cows .................................................. (512) 501-3266 Donnie Fike - Dairy Products ............................................................... (202) 690-3347 Anthony Fischer - Hogs and Pigs ............................................................ (202) 720-3106 Suzanne Richards - Sheep and Goats ......................................................... 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