Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released May 19, 2023, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Down 3 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 May 1, 2023. The inventory was 3 percent below May 1, 2022. Placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.75 million head, 4 percent below 2022. Net placements were 1.70 million head. During April, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 360,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 245,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 410,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 458,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 205,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 70,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during April totaled 1.70 million head, 10 percent below 2022. Other disappearance totaled 51,000 head during April, 6 percent below 2022. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: May 1, 2022 and 2023 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2022 : 2023 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed April 1 ........................: 12,145 11,612 96 Placed on feed during April ............: 1,824 1,748 96 Fed cattle marketed during April .......: 1,893 1,701 90 Other disappearance during April .......: 54 51 94 On feed May 1 ..........................: 12,022 11,608 97 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: April 1, 2022 and 2023 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2022 : 2023 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed March 1 ........................: 12,193 11,650 96 Placed on feed during March ............: 2,005 1,992 99 Fed cattle marketed during March .......: 2,000 1,977 99 Other disappearance during March .......: 53 53 100 On feed April 1 ........................: 12,145 11,612 96 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2022 and 2023 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : May 1, 2023 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : May 1, 2022 : April 1, 2023 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 287 257 258 90 100 California .......: 570 525 535 94 102 Colorado .........: 1,090 980 980 90 100 Idaho ............: 300 320 315 105 98 Iowa .............: 620 620 630 102 102 Kansas ...........: 2,480 2,430 2,440 98 100 Minnesota ........: 100 95 100 100 105 Nebraska .........: 2,650 2,530 2,530 95 100 Oklahoma .........: 275 260 250 91 96 South Dakota .....: 220 220 220 100 100 Texas ............: 2,900 2,810 2,790 96 99 Washington .......: 235 255 255 109 100 : Other States .....: 295 310 305 103 98 : United States ....: 12,022 11,612 11,608 97 100 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2022 and 2023 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During April 2023 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : April 2022 : March 2023 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 29 28 27 93 96 California .......: 74 73 69 93 95 Colorado .........: 165 160 145 88 91 Idaho ............: 35 37 37 106 100 Iowa .............: 94 109 91 97 83 Kansas ...........: 430 460 420 98 91 Minnesota ........: 14 15 17 121 113 Nebraska .........: 440 475 420 95 88 Oklahoma .........: 42 43 45 107 105 South Dakota .....: 27 44 31 115 70 Texas ............: 395 455 370 94 81 Washington .......: 41 40 37 90 93 : Other States .....: 38 53 39 103 74 : United States ....: 1,824 1,992 1,748 96 88 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2022 and 2023 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During April 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 30 35 40 30 (D) (D) 165 Kansas ........: 45 60 125 135 65 (D) (D) 430 Nebraska ......: 30 50 95 155 110 (D) (D) 440 Texas .........: 140 80 85 65 25 (D) (D) 395 : Other States ..: 120 50 75 99 50 (D) (D) 394 : United States .: 365 270 415 494 (X) 210 70 1,824 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During March 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 45 20 (D) (D) 160 Kansas ........: 50 70 150 135 55 (D) (D) 460 Nebraska ......: 30 65 135 150 95 (D) (D) 475 Texas .........: 160 95 105 75 20 (D) (D) 455 : Other States ..: 120 60 110 112 40 (D) (D) 442 : United States .: 390 315 540 517 (X) 170 60 1,992 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During April 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 25 35 35 25 (D) (D) 145 Kansas ........: 45 60 125 125 65 (D) (D) 420 Nebraska ......: 30 45 95 140 110 (D) (D) 420 Texas .........: 140 65 80 60 25 (D) (D) 370 : Other States ..: 120 50 75 98 50 (D) (D) 393 : United States .: 360 245 410 458 (X) 205 70 1,748 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 April 2023 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : April 2022 : March 2023 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 26 30 25 96 83 California .......: 63 61 53 84 87 Colorado .........: 170 185 140 82 76 Idaho ............: 38 41 41 108 100 Iowa .............: 92 107 79 86 74 Kansas ...........: 450 480 400 89 83 Minnesota ........: 13 14 11 85 79 Nebraska .........: 440 465 410 93 88 Oklahoma .........: 56 52 54 96 104 South Dakota .....: 35 37 30 86 81 Texas ............: 435 415 380 87 92 Washington .......: 30 39 36 120 92 : Other States .....: 45 51 42 93 82 : United States ....: 1,893 1,977 1,701 90 86 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2022 and 2023 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During April 2023 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : April 2022 : March 2023 : Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 6 7 6 100 86 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 2 1 1 50 100 Iowa .............: 2 2 2 100 100 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 10 10 10 100 100 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 2 2 1 50 50 Texas ............: 10 10 10 100 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 3 2 2 67 100 : United States ....: 54 53 51 94 96 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 22,000 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 16 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 22 0 65 16 0 : Placements ...................: 0.5 0.9 6 0 23 9 11 : Marketings ...................: 0.1 0.1 1 0 4 2 9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Donnie Fike - Dairy Products ........................................................................ (202) 690-3347 Anthony Fischer - Hogs and Pigs ..................................................................... (202) 720-3106 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows ......................................................... (202) 720-3278 Suzanne Richards - Sheep and Goats .................................................................. 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