Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released April 21, 2011, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Up 5 Percent Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.3 million head on April 1, 2011. The inventory was 5 percent above April 1, 2010. The inventory included 7.12 million steers and steer calves, up 7 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 63 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.10 million head, up 2 percent from 2010. Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.92 million, 3 percent above 2010. Net placements were 1.87 million head. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 380,000, 600-699 pounds were 360,000, 700-799 pounds were 588,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 590,000. Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.99 million, 4 percent above 2010. This is the second highest fed cattle marketings for the month of March since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 52,000 during March, 13 percent below 2010. Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: April 1, 2010 and 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2010 : 2011 :previous year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed March 1 .....................: 10,849 11,399 105 Placed on feed during March .........: 1,856 1,918 103 Fed cattle marketed during March ....: 1,903 1,988 104 Other disappearance during March ....: 60 52 87 On feed April 1 .....................: 10,742 11,277 105 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: March 1, 2010 and 2011 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2010 : 2011 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed February 1 .....................: 10,959 11,583 106 Placed on feed during February .........: 1,674 1,667 100 Fed cattle marketed during February ....: 1,716 1,791 104 Other disappearance during February ....: 68 60 88 On feed March 1 ........................: 10,849 11,399 105 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: April 1, 2010 and 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2010 : 2011 :previous year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head --- percent : Class on Feed April 1 : Steers and Steer Calves ...........: 6,681 7,124 107 Heifers and Heifer Calves .........: 4,020 4,101 102 Cows and Bulls ....................: 41 52 127 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2010 and 2011 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : April 1, 2011 : : :----------------------------------------- State : April 1, 2010 : March 1, 2011 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : -------------- 1,000 head ------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ........: 278 269 282 101 105 California .....: 415 460 450 108 98 Colorado .......: 930 1,070 1,090 117 102 Idaho ..........: 205 220 220 107 100 Iowa ...........: 600 650 650 108 100 Kansas .........: 2,240 2,220 2,190 98 99 Nebraska .......: 2,290 2,430 2,380 104 98 Oklahoma .......: 340 360 355 104 99 South Dakota ...: 235 265 265 113 100 Texas ..........: 2,640 2,840 2,780 105 98 Washington .....: 171 208 211 123 101 : Other States ...: 398 407 404 102 99 : United States ..: 10,742 11,399 11,277 105 99 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2010 and 2011 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During March 2011 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2010 :February 2011 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 20 29 37 185 128 California .......: 47 43 48 102 112 Colorado .........: 185 215 215 116 100 Idaho ............: 34 31 35 103 113 Iowa .............: 77 71 81 105 114 Kansas ...........: 440 365 415 94 114 Nebraska .........: 380 350 390 103 111 Oklahoma .........: 64 60 75 117 125 South Dakota .....: 42 45 46 110 102 Texas ............: 490 380 490 100 129 Washington .......: 32 31 33 103 106 : Other States .....: 45 47 53 118 113 : United States ....: 1,856 1,667 1,918 103 115 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2010 and 2011 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : During March :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : 1,000 head : Colorado .....: 30 40 40 35 70 70 45 70 185 215 Kansas .......: 70 55 90 70 165 145 115 145 440 415 Nebraska .....: 60 60 70 70 120 120 130 140 380 390 Texas ........: 145 135 125 110 150 150 70 95 490 490 : Other States .: 90 90 50 75 96 103 125 140 361 408 : United States : 395 380 375 360 601 588 485 590 1,856 1,918 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : During February :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Colorado .....: 15 30 35 45 50 65 60 75 160 215 Kansas .......: 50 55 90 80 150 150 115 80 405 365 Nebraska .....: 55 60 80 85 110 100 120 105 365 350 Texas ........: 105 160 95 85 110 85 55 50 365 380 : Other States .: 95 95 70 70 99 92 115 100 379 357 : United States : 320 400 370 365 519 492 465 410 1,674 1,667 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Number of Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2010 and 2011 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During March 2011 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2010 :February 2011 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 27 25 23 85 92 California .......: 51 50 55 108 110 Colorado .........: 190 210 190 100 90 Idaho ............: 23 40 34 148 85 Iowa .............: 84 79 78 93 99 Kansas ...........: 410 405 435 106 107 Nebraska .........: 430 365 430 100 118 Oklahoma .........: 77 73 78 101 107 South Dakota .....: 45 48 44 98 92 Texas ............: 485 405 540 111 133 Washington .......: 28 30 28 100 93 : Other States .....: 53 61 53 100 87 : United States ....: 1,903 1,791 1,988 104 111 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2010 and 2011 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During March 2011 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2010 :February 2011 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 6 3 3 50 100 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 1 1 1 100 100 Iowa .............: 3 2 3 100 150 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Nebraska .........: 10 15 10 100 67 Oklahoma .........: 2 2 2 100 100 South Dakota .....: 2 2 2 100 100 Texas ............: 15 15 10 67 67 Washington .......: 1 2 2 200 100 : Other States .....: 4 2 3 75 150 : United States ....: 60 60 52 87 87 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States: 2010 and 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers and steer calves :Heifers and heifer calves : Cows and bulls :----------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Apr 1, : Jan 1, : Apr 1, : Apr 1, : Jan 1, : Apr 1, :Apr 1, :Jan 1, :Apr 1, : 2010 : 2011 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ......: 275 255 263 3 3 19 0 0 0 California ...: 335 405 390 80 65 59 0 0 1 Colorado .....: 630 710 740 295 365 345 5 5 5 Idaho ........: 122 116 120 82 108 94 1 16 6 Iowa .........: 420 440 460 180 199 190 0 1 0 Kansas .......: 1,190 1,220 1,220 1,045 1,055 965 5 5 5 Nebraska .....: 1,410 1,520 1,480 870 895 890 10 15 10 Oklahoma .....: 190 210 210 150 165 145 0 0 0 South Dakota .: 125 129 135 93 107 114 17 24 16 Texas ........: 1,610 1,750 1,690 1,029 1,089 1,090 1 1 0 Washington ...: 101 130 135 69 71 68 1 8 8 : Other States .: 273 293 281 124 137 122 1 2 1 : United States : 6,681 7,178 7,124 4,020 4,259 4,101 41 77 52 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Illinois, Minnesota, 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 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 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 0.1 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 11.3 million head by more than 0.1 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.2 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 9,000 head, ranging from 0 to 30,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 8 times and has been below the latest estimate 11 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 ----- : Number on feed ...............: 0.1 0.2 9 0 30 11 8 : Placements ...................: 0.3 0.6 3 0 20 12 5 : Marketings ...................: 0.3 0.5 3 0 21 8 7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Travis Averill - Dairy Products Prices ....... (202) 690-2168 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ...... (515) 284-4340 Doug Bounds - Hogs and Pigs .................. (202) 720-3106 Jason Hardegree - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ..... (202) 720-3040 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 Everett Olbert - Sheep and Goats ............. (202) 720-4751 Lorie Warren - Dairy Products ................ (202) 690-3236 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. 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