Mt An 2-1 (7-08) Cattle on Feed National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released July 25, 2008, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Cattle on Feed" call Jason Hardegree at (202) 720-3040, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. U.S. Cattle on Feed Down 4 Percent Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.3 million head on July 1, 2008. The inventory was 4 percent below July 1, 2007 and 5 percent below July 1, 2006. The inventory included 6.43 million steers and steer calves, down 5 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 62 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.82 million head, down 3 percent from 2007. Placements in feedlots during June totaled 1.51 million, 9 percent below 2007 and 22 percent below 2006. Net placements were 1.45 million head. During June, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 365,000, 600-699 pounds were 325,000, 700-799 pounds were 383,000 and 800 pounds and greater were 440,000. Marketings of fed cattle during June totaled 1.97 million, 8 percent below 2007 and 10 percent below 2006. This is the lowest fed cattle marketings for the month of June since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 60,000 during June, 15 percent above 2007, but 5 percent below 2006. U.S. All Cattle on Feed Down 5 Percent Cattle on feed July 1, 2008, from all feedlots in the United States, totaled 11.7 million, down 5 percent from the 12.3 million on July 1, 2007 and down 6 percent from July 1, 2006. Cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 or more head accounted for 88 percent of the total cattle on feed on July 1, 2008, up 1 percent from July 1, 2007. Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, United States, July 1, 2006-2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : 2008 as % of Item :------------------------------------------ : 2006 : 2007 : 2008 : 2006 : 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 Head ------ Percent : On Feed Jun 1 1/ : 11,187 11,272 *10,815 97 96 Placed on Feed During Jun : 1,946 1,657 1,513 78 91 Fed Cattle Marketed During Jun : 2,198 2,140 1,973 90 92 Other Disappearance During Jun 2/ : 63 52 60 95 115 On Feed Jul 1 1/ : 10,872 10,737 10,295 95 96 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Revised. 1/ Cattle and calves on feed are animals for slaughter market being fed a ration of grain or other concentrates and are expected to produce a carcass that will grade select or better. 2/ Includes death loss, movement from feedlots to pasture, and shipments to other feedlots for further feeding. Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, United States, June 1, 2006-2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : 2008 as % of Item :------------------------------------------ : 2006 : 2007 : 2008 : 2006 : 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 Head ------ Percent : On Feed May 1 1/ : 11,559 11,297 11,135 96 99 Placed on Feed During May : 1,903 2,159 *1,900 100 88 Fed Cattle Marketed During May : 2,160 2,085 2,140 99 103 Other Disappearance During May 2/ : 115 99 80 70 81 On Feed Jun 1 1/ : 11,187 11,272 *10,815 97 96 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Revised. 1/ Cattle and calves on feed are animals for slaughter market being fed a ration of grain or other concentrates and are expected to produce a carcass that will grade select or better. 2/ Includes death loss, movement from feedlots to pasture, and shipments to other feedlots for further feeding. Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed by Class, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, United States, July 1, 2006-2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : 2008 as % of Item :------------------------------------------ : 2006 : 2007 : 2008 : 2006 : 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 Head ----- Percent : Class on Feed Jul 1 : Steers and Steer Calves : 7,092 6,742 6,432 91 95 Heifers and Heifer Calves : 3,710 3,928 3,823 103 97 Cows and Bulls : 70 67 40 57 60 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States 2007-2008 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Jul 1, 2008 : : :------------------------------------------ State : Jul 1, 2007 : Jun 1, 2008 : : as % of : as % of : : : Number : 2007 : Jun -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 Head ------------ ---- Percent ---- : AZ : 343 365 356 104 98 CA : 545 525 520 95 99 CO : 940 920 820 87 89 ID : 220 215 200 91 93 IA : 510 520 500 98 96 KS : 2,140 2,190 2,080 97 95 NE : 2,050 2,250 2,050 100 91 NM : 132 *150 154 117 103 OK : 325 305 300 92 98 SD : 197 205 185 94 90 TX : 2,870 2,690 2,660 93 99 WA : 150 145 140 93 97 : Oth Sts: 315 335 330 105 99 : US : 10,737 *10,815 10,295 96 95 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Revised. 1/ Cattle and calves on feed are animals for slaughter market being fed a ration of grain or other concentrates and are expected to produce a carcass that will grade select or better. Cattle on Feed: Number Placed on Feed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States 2007-2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During Jun 2008 : During : During :------------------------------------------ State : Jun 2007 : May 2008 : : as % of : as % of : : : Number : 2007 : May -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 Head ----------- ---- Percent ---- : AZ : 39 34 32 82 94 CA : 53 80 52 98 65 CO : 120 150 80 67 53 ID : 37 28 33 89 118 IA : 52 58 41 79 71 KS : 375 410 330 88 80 NE : 330 370 290 88 78 NM : 22 *24 32 145 133 OK : 52 76 57 110 75 SD : 24 34 21 88 62 TX : 485 560 460 95 82 WA : 31 29 28 90 97 : Oth Sts: 37 47 57 154 121 : US : 1,657 *1,900 1,513 91 80 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Revised. Cattle on Feed: Number Placed on Feed by Weight Group, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States, 2007-2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During June :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Under 600 : 600-699 : 700-799 : 800 Plus : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : CO : 15 20 20 10 35 25 50 25 120 80 KS : 80 60 70 75 125 100 100 95 375 330 NE : 75 40 55 40 70 70 130 140 330 290 TX : 110 135 135 140 160 120 80 65 485 460 : Oth Sts : 125 110 45 60 67 68 110 115 347 353 : US : 405 365 325 325 457 383 470 440 1,657 1,513 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : During May :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : Under 600 : 600-699 : 700-799 : 800 Plus : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : CO : 25 25 30 30 50 45 70 50 175 150 KS : 80 50 85 70 135 130 165 160 465 410 NE : 55 40 60 70 110 85 165 175 390 370 TX : 130 105 145 125 260 210 175 120 710 560 : Oth Sts : 130 120 54 55 90 *95 145 140 419 *410 : US : 420 340 374 350 645 *565 720 645 2,159 *1,900 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Revised. Cattle on Feed: Number Marketed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States 2007-2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During Jun 2008 : During : During :------------------------------------------ State : Jun 2007 : May 2008 : : as % of : as % of : : : Number : 2007 : May -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 Head ----------- ---- Percent ---- : AZ : 35 38 40 114 105 CA : 60 71 55 92 77 CO : 190 170 170 89 100 ID : 46 36 47 102 131 IA : 61 65 60 98 92 KS : 515 490 430 83 88 NE : 560 480 475 85 99 NM : 17 23 27 159 117 OK : 66 75 61 92 81 SD : 39 46 38 97 83 TX : 475 550 480 101 87 WA : 30 38 32 107 84 : Oth Sts: 46 58 58 126 100 : US : 2,140 2,140 1,973 92 92 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States 2007-2008 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During Jun 2008 : During : During :------------------------------------------ State : Jun 2007 : May 2008 : : as % of : as % of : : : Number : 2007 : May -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 Head ---------- ---- Percent ---- : AZ : 1 1 1 100 100 CA : 3 4 2 67 50 CO : 10 10 10 100 100 ID : 1 2 1 100 50 IA : 1 3 1 100 33 KS : 10 20 10 100 50 NE : 10 20 15 150 75 NM : 1 1 1 100 100 OK : 1 1 1 100 100 SD : 3 3 3 100 100 TX : 10 10 10 100 100 WA : 0 1 1 100 : Oth Sts: 1 4 4 400 100 : US : 52 80 60 115 75 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Includes death loss, movement from feedlots to pasture, and shipments to other feedlots for further feeding. Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed by Class, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Quarter, State, and United States, 2007-2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers & Steer Calves :Heifers & Heifer Calves: Cows and Bulls :----------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Jul 1, :Apr 1, :Jul 1, :Jul 1, :Apr 1, :Jul 1, :Jul 1, :Apr 1, :Jul 1, : 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : AZ : 342 371 354 1 3 2 0 0 0 CA : 490 485 470 54 45 50 1 0 0 CO : 590 600 485 345 415 330 5 5 5 ID : 133 132 112 83 96 86 4 2 2 IA : 340 380 335 169 170 165 1 0 0 KS : 1,090 1,270 1,135 1,030 1,130 940 20 20 5 NE : 1,230 1,550 1,270 810 890 775 10 10 5 NM : 84 94 78 48 64 76 0 0 0 OK : 225 220 190 100 120 110 0 0 0 SD : 98 121 93 80 86 75 19 18 17 TX : 1,780 1,790 1,600 1,087 1,087 1,059 3 3 1 WA : 90 74 65 59 77 74 1 1 1 : Oth Sts : 250 260 245 62 93 81 3 2 4 : US : 6,742 7,347 6,432 3,928 4,276 3,823 67 61 40 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Total Number on Feed, United States, July 1, 2006-2008 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : July 1, 2008 : : :----------------------------------------- State : Jul 1, 2006 : Jul 1, 2007 : : as % of : as % of : : : Number : 2006 : 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----------- 1,000 Head ----------- ---- Percent --- : US : 12,500 12,300 11,700 94 95 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Cattle and calves on feed are animals for slaughter market being fed a ration of grain or other concentrates and are expected to produce a carcass that will grade select or better. 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 U.S. 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 17 States are surveyed. The 17 States account for 98 percent of the cattle on feed in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head. 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 setting 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 less than 0.1 percent (0.04). This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 10.3 million head by more than 0.04 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.1 percent. The following table also 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 2,000 head, ranging from 0 to 18,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has not been above the final estimate, but has been below the final 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 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : 90% : Difference Between : : : Confidence : First and Final : Number of : Root : Level : Estimates 1/ : Months Item : Mean :--------------------------------------------------------- : Square : : : : : : First : First : Error :Percent: (000) :Average:Smallest:Largest: Above : Below : : : Head : : : : Final : Final -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent -------- 1,000 Head -------- Number : Number on : Feed : 0.0 0.1 10.3 2 0 18 0 4 : Placements : 0.2 0.4 6.1 3 0 10 8 4 : Marketings : 0.2 0.4 7.9 2 0 10 9 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Based on data for the past 24 months. Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch....................(202) 720-3570 Livestock Section 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 Benita Hodge - 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 REPORTS!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are available free of charge on the worldwide Internet. 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