Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released December 20, 2024, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Down Slightly Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 12.0 million head on December 1, 2024. The inventory was slightly below December 1, 2023. Placements in feedlots during November totaled 1.80 million head, 4 percent below 2023. Net placements were 1.74 million head. During November, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 495,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 420,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 375,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 276,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 145,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 85,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during November totaled 1.73 million head, 1 percent below 2023. Other disappearance totaled 55,000 head during November, 2 percent above 2023. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: December 1, 2023 and 2024 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2023 : 2024 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed November 1 .....................: 11,956 11,966 100 Placed on feed during November .........: 1,865 1,796 96 Fed cattle marketed during November ....: 1,751 1,725 99 Other disappearance during November ....: 54 55 102 On feed December 1 .....................: 12,016 11,982 100 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: November 1, 2023 and 2024 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2023 : 2024 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed October 1 ......................: 11,604 11,600 100 Placed on feed during October ..........: 2,170 2,266 104 Fed cattle marketed during October .....: 1,763 1,845 105 Other disappearance during October .....: 55 55 100 On feed November 1 .....................: 11,956 11,966 100 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : December 1, 2024 : : :-------------------------------------------- State :December 1, 2023 :November 1, 2024 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 266 231 232 87 100 California .......: 510 515 510 100 99 Colorado .........: 1,030 1,060 1,060 103 100 Idaho ............: 330 330 330 100 100 Iowa .............: 640 670 660 103 99 Kansas ...........: 2,500 2,410 2,420 97 100 Minnesota ........: 100 105 105 105 100 Nebraska .........: 2,580 2,580 2,600 101 101 Oklahoma .........: 325 365 365 112 100 South Dakota .....: 230 225 235 102 104 Texas ............: 2,910 2,880 2,880 99 100 Washington .......: 270 270 260 96 96 : Other States .....: 325 325 325 100 100 : United States ....: 12,016 11,966 11,982 100 100 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During November 2024 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :November 2023 : October 2024 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 26 21 22 85 105 California .......: 65 57 52 80 91 Colorado .........: 155 210 135 87 64 Idaho ............: 55 50 45 82 90 Iowa .............: 88 95 91 103 96 Kansas ...........: 385 480 400 104 83 Minnesota ........: 15 22 15 100 68 Nebraska .........: 490 615 510 104 83 Oklahoma .........: 49 66 44 90 67 South Dakota .....: 59 70 56 95 80 Texas ............: 390 470 345 88 73 Washington .......: 41 50 34 83 68 : Other States .....: 47 60 47 100 78 : United States ....: 1,865 2,266 1,796 96 79 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During November 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 ......: 50 35 30 20 20 (D) (D) 155 Kansas ........: 55 90 115 80 45 (D) (D) 385 Nebraska ......: 95 115 90 90 100 (D) (D) 490 Texas .........: 160 100 75 40 15 (D) (D) 390 : Other States ..: 170 100 70 60 45 (D) (D) 445 : United States .: 530 440 380 290 (X) 140 85 1,865 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During October 2024 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ......: 40 40 45 50 35 (D) (D) 210 Kansas ........: 75 105 140 105 55 (D) (D) 480 Nebraska ......: 130 115 105 135 130 (D) (D) 615 Texas .........: 170 115 115 55 15 (D) (D) 470 : Other States ..: 165 105 80 86 55 (D) (D) 491 : United States .: 580 480 485 431 (X) 210 80 2,266 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During November 2024 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ......: 40 30 25 20 20 (D) (D) 135 Kansas ........: 60 95 120 80 45 (D) (D) 400 Nebraska ......: 100 120 95 90 105 (D) (D) 510 Texas .........: 140 85 70 35 15 (D) (D) 345 : Other States ..: 155 90 65 51 45 (D) (D) 406 : United States .: 495 420 375 276 (X) 145 85 1,796 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During November 2024 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :November 2023 : October 2024 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 20 19 20 100 105 California .......: 55 51 51 93 100 Colorado .........: 150 145 130 87 90 Idaho ............: 43 48 44 102 92 Iowa .............: 97 84 100 103 119 Kansas ...........: 395 430 380 96 88 Minnesota ........: 14 16 14 100 88 Nebraska .........: 440 495 480 109 97 Oklahoma .........: 38 45 42 111 93 South Dakota .....: 48 39 45 94 115 Texas ............: 365 395 330 90 84 Washington .......: 40 34 43 108 126 : Other States .....: 46 44 46 100 105 : United States ....: 1,751 1,845 1,725 99 93 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During November 2024 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :November 2023 : October 2024 : Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 5 6 6 120 100 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 2 2 1 50 50 Iowa .............: 1 1 1 100 100 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 10 10 10 100 100 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 2 200 200 South Dakota .....: 1 1 1 100 100 Texas ............: 15 15 15 100 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 1 1 1 100 100 : United States ....: 54 55 55 102 100 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 12.0 million head by more than 0.3 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.4 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 1 time 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 0.4 21 0 65 14 1 : Placements ...................: 0.5 0.8 6 0 24 7 9 : Marketings ...................: 0.1 0.2 1 0 6 7 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.. (202) 720-3278 Donnie Fike - Dairy Products .............. (202) 690-3347 Ralph Mondesir - Hogs and Pigs ............ (202) 720-3106 Suzanne Richards - Sheep and Goats ........ (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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