Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released July 23, 2010, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). U.S. Cattle on Feed Up 3 Percent Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.1 million head on July 1, 2010. The inventory was 3 percent above July 1, 2009. The inventory included 6.25 million steers and steer calves, up 4 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 62 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.77 million head, up 1 percent from 2009. Placements in feedlots during June totaled 1.63 million, 17 percent above 2009. Net placements were 1.57 million head. During June, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 440,000, 600-699 pounds were 300,000, 700-799 pounds were 408,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 480,000. Marketings of fed cattle during June totaled 2.00 million, slightly above 2009. Other disappearance totaled 55,000 during June, 4 percent below 2009. U.S. All Cattle on Feed Up 3 Percent Cattle on feed July 1, 2010, from all feedlots in the United States, totaled 12.0 million, up 3 percent from the 11.6 million on July 1, 2009. Cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 or more head accounted for 84 percent of the total cattle on feed on July 1, 2010, down slightly from July 1, 2009. Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: July 1, 2009 and 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2009 : 2010 :previous year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed June 1 ......................: 10,407 10,494 101 Placed on feed during June ..........: 1,391 1,628 117 Fed cattle marketed during June .....: 1,989 1,997 100 Other disappearance during June .....: 57 55 96 On feed July 1 ......................: 9,752 10,070 103 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: June 1, 2009 and 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2009 : 2010 :previous year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed May 1 .......................: 10,822 10,443 96 Placed on feed during May ...........: 1,638 2,022 123 Fed cattle marketed during May ......: 1,952 1,869 96 Other disappearance during May ......: 101 102 101 On feed June 1 ......................: 10,407 10,494 101 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: July 1, 2009 and 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2009 : 2010 :previous year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head --- percent : Class on Feed July 1 : Steers and Steer Calves ...........: 5,992 6,254 104 Heifers and Heifer Calves .........: 3,719 3,766 101 Cows and Bulls ....................: 41 50 122 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Number on Feed - United States: July 1, 2009 and 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of State :---------------------------: : 2009 : 2010 :previous year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head ---- percent : United States .......................: 11,600 12,000 103 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2009 and 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : July 1, 2010 : : :----------------------------------------- State : July 1, 2009 : June 1, 2010 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ------------ ----- percent ---- : Arizona ........: 287 263 255 89 97 California .....: 460 425 430 93 101 Colorado .......: 910 970 920 101 95 Idaho ..........: 200 210 200 100 95 Iowa ...........: 520 590 570 110 97 Kansas .........: 1,920 2,130 2,010 105 94 Nebraska .......: 1,920 2,140 2,000 104 93 Oklahoma .......: 295 345 350 119 101 South Dakota ...: 205 230 215 105 93 Texas ..........: 2,490 2,640 2,590 104 98 Washington .....: 146 178 167 114 94 : Other States ...: 399 373 363 91 97 : United States ..: 9,752 10,494 10,070 103 96 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2009 and 2010 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2010 : During : During :------------------------------------------ State : June 2009 : May 2010 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ........: 21 20 21 100 105 California .....: 43 60 64 149 107 Colorado .......: 125 185 125 100 68 Idaho ..........: 32 32 34 106 106 Iowa ...........: 59 64 57 97 89 Kansas .........: 305 420 365 120 87 Nebraska .......: 270 380 310 115 82 Oklahoma .......: 44 93 66 150 71 South Dakota ...: 25 42 23 92 55 Texas ..........: 380 620 470 124 76 Washington .....: 30 41 32 107 78 : Other States ...: 57 65 61 107 94 : United States ..: 1,391 2,022 1,628 117 81 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2009 and 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : During June :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : 1,000 head : Colorado .....: 15 20 20 20 35 30 55 55 125 125 Kansas .......: 55 65 70 80 95 115 85 105 305 365 Nebraska .....: 50 60 55 50 55 70 110 130 270 310 Texas ........: 110 175 95 105 125 125 50 65 380 470 : Other States .: 85 120 50 45 61 68 115 125 311 358 : United States : 315 440 290 300 371 408 415 480 1,391 1,628 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : During May :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Colorado .....: 25 25 25 25 45 45 45 90 140 185 Kansas .......: 65 60 70 80 110 130 100 150 345 420 Nebraska .....: 30 55 60 70 80 105 140 150 310 380 Texas ........: 170 180 100 180 110 170 75 90 455 620 : Other States .: 105 125 50 50 88 87 145 155 388 417 : United States : 395 445 305 405 433 537 505 635 1,638 2,022 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Number of Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2009 and 2010 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2010 : During : During :------------------------------------------ State : June 2009 : May 2010 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ........: 34 24 27 79 113 California .....: 51 52 56 110 108 Colorado .......: 190 135 170 89 126 Idaho ..........: 36 31 43 119 139 Iowa ...........: 67 72 75 112 104 Kansas .........: 455 405 475 104 117 Nebraska .......: 440 455 435 99 96 Oklahoma .......: 58 72 60 103 83 South Dakota ...: 39 44 36 92 82 Texas ..........: 490 475 510 104 107 Washington .....: 39 37 42 108 114 : Other States ...: 90 67 68 76 101 : United States ..: 1,989 1,869 1,997 100 107 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2009 and 2010 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2010 : During : During :------------------------------------------ State : June 2009 : May 2010 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------- 1,000 head --------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ........: 1 1 2 200 200 California .....: 2 8 3 150 38 Colorado .......: 5 20 5 100 25 Idaho ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 Iowa ...........: 2 2 2 100 100 Kansas .........: 10 15 10 100 67 Nebraska .......: 20 25 15 75 60 Oklahoma .......: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota ...: 1 3 2 200 67 Texas ..........: 10 15 10 100 67 Washington .....: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States ...: 3 10 3 100 30 : United States ..: 57 102 55 96 54 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States: 2009 and 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers and Steer Calves :Heifers and Heifer Calves : Cows and Bulls :----------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Jul 1, : Apr 1, : Jul 1, : Jul 1, : Apr 1, : Jul 1, :Jul 1, :Apr 1, :Jul 1, : 2009 : 2010 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ......: 286 275 254 1 3 1 0 0 0 California ...: 410 360 425 50 80 5 0 0 0 Colorado .....: 615 630 635 290 295 280 5 5 5 Idaho ........: 105 122 115 94 82 77 1 1 8 Iowa .........: 365 420 400 155 180 170 0 0 0 Kansas .......: 970 1,190 1,030 945 1,045 970 5 5 10 Nebraska .....: 1,130 1,410 1,210 785 870 785 5 10 5 Oklahoma .....: 173 190 185 122 150 165 0 0 0 South Dakota .: 105 125 106 80 93 91 20 17 18 Texas ........: 1,500 1,610 1,550 989 1,029 1,039 1 1 1 Washington ...: 80 101 97 65 69 69 1 1 1 : Other States .: 253 273 247 143 124 114 3 1 2 : United States : 5,992 6,706 6,254 3,719 4,020 3,766 41 41 50 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Terms and Definitions of Cattle on Feed Estimates Cattle on feed are animals 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 cattle 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 cattle 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. Reliability of Cattle on Feed Estimates 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 98 percent of the cattle on feed in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head. Individual State estimates are published monthly for 11 of the 16 States. Data collected from the remaining 5 States are used to establish the "Other States" estimates. These 5 States include IL, MN, NM, OR, and WY. 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 each State office. 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 following table. 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 0.05 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 10.1 million head by more than 0.05 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.10 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 18,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 6 times and has been below the latest estimate 4 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] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : : Difference between : : : : : first and latest : Number of : Root : 90 percent : estimates : months Item : mean : confidence :-------------------------------------- :square : level : : : :First :First : error : : :Average:Smallest:Largest:above :below : : : : : : :latest:latest -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : percent -------- 1,000 head -------- number : Number on feed .: 0.05 0.10 10.1 3 0 18 6 4 : Placements .....: 0.19 0.30 4.9 2 0 9 5 5 : Marketings .....: 0.30 0.50 10.0 3 0 21 4 8 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch ........... (202) 720-3570 Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ........... (202) 690-2424 Jim Collom - Dairy Products .................. (202) 690-3236 Joe Gaynor - Dairy Products Prices ........... (202) 690-2168 Jason Hardegree - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ..... (202) 720-3040 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ...... (515) 284-4340 Everett Olbert - Sheep and Goats ............. (202) 720-4751 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 Nick Streff - 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: http://www.nass.usda.gov Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e- mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit http://www.nass.usda.gov and in the "Receive NASS Updates" box under "Receive reports by Email," click on "National" or "State" to select the reports you would like to receive. Printed reports may be purchased from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) by calling toll-free (800) 999-6779, or (703) 605-6220 if calling from outside the United States or Canada. Accepted methods of payment are Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@nass.usda.gov. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.