Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released July 25, 2014, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Down 2 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, 2014. The inventory was 2 percent below July 1, 2013. The inventory included 6.46 million steers and steer calves, down 1 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 64 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.60 million head, down 5 percent from 2013. Placements in feedlots during June totaled 1.46 million, 6 percent below 2013. Net placements were 1.38 million head. During June, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 400,000, 600-699 pounds were 245,000, 700-799 pounds were 320,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 490,000. Marketings of fed cattle during June totaled 1.85 million, 2 percent below 2013. This is the lowest fed cattle marketings for the month of June since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 75,000 during June, 19 percent above 2013. United States All Cattle on Feed down 6 Percent from 2012 Cattle on feed July 1, 2014, from all feedlots in the United States, totaled 11.6 million, down 6 percent from the 12.30 million on July 1, 2012. Cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 or more head accounted for 87 percent of the total cattle on feed on July 1, 2014, up slightly from July 1, 2012. Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: July 1, 2013 and 2014 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2013 : 2014 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed June 1 .........................: 10,767 10,594 98 Placed on feed during June .............: 1,551 1,455 94 Fed cattle marketed during June ........: 1,880 1,847 98 Other disappearance during June ........: 63 75 119 On feed July 1 .........................: 10,375 10,127 98 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: June 1, 2013 and 2014 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2013 : 2014 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed May 1 ..........................: 10,760 10,648 99 Placed on feed during May ..............: 2,055 1,912 93 Fed cattle marketed during May .........: 1,948 1,865 96 Other disappearance during May .........: 100 101 101 On feed June 1 .........................: 10,767 10,594 98 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: July 1, 2013 and 2014 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2013 : 2014 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head --- percent : Class on Feed July 1 : Steers and Steer Calves ..............: 6,537 6,464 99 Heifers and Heifer Calves ............: 3,776 3,603 95 Cows and Bulls .......................: 62 60 97 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Number on Feed - United States: July 1, 2012 and 2014 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of State :---------------------------: : 2012 : 2014 : 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head ---- percent : United States .......................: 12,300 11,600 94 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2013 and 2014 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : July 1, 2014 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : July 1, 2013 : June 1, 2014 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 267 275 272 102 99 California .......: 515 435 435 84 100 Colorado .........: 920 930 870 95 94 Idaho ............: 195 205 190 97 93 Iowa .............: 580 640 620 107 97 Kansas ...........: 2,020 2,020 1,900 94 94 Minnesota ........: 125 123 122 98 99 Nebraska .........: 2,180 2,410 2,260 104 94 Oklahoma .........: 305 265 255 84 96 South Dakota .....: 200 225 210 105 93 Texas ............: 2,560 2,550 2,490 97 98 Washington .......: 203 201 193 95 96 : Other States .....: 305 315 310 102 98 : United States ....: 10,375 10,594 10,127 98 96 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2013 and 2014 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2014 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2013 : May 2014 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 22 24 20 91 83 California .......: 61 50 45 74 90 Colorado .........: 115 140 95 83 68 Idaho ............: 36 23 26 72 113 Iowa .............: 45 54 54 120 100 Kansas ...........: 350 435 315 90 72 Minnesota ........: 10 8 15 150 188 Nebraska .........: 330 425 375 114 88 Oklahoma .........: 49 67 37 76 55 South Dakota .....: 27 34 31 115 91 Texas ............: 425 580 370 87 64 Washington .......: 39 40 37 95 93 : Other States .....: 42 32 35 83 109 : United States ....: 1,551 1,912 1,455 94 76 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2013 and 2014 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During June :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2013 : 2014 : 2013 : 2014 : 2013 : 2014 : 2013 : 2014 : 2013 : 2014 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Colorado .........: 30 30 15 15 30 20 40 30 115 95 Kansas ...........: 50 65 55 60 100 80 145 110 350 315 Nebraska .........: 30 55 45 50 80 80 175 190 330 375 Texas ............: 125 155 75 75 135 85 90 55 425 370 : Other States .....: 80 95 36 45 65 55 150 105 331 300 : United States ....: 315 400 226 245 410 320 600 490 1,551 1,455 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : During May :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2013 : 2014 : 2013 : 2014 : 2013 : 2014 : 2013 : 2014 : 2013 : 2014 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Colorado .........: 30 35 20 20 50 35 70 50 170 140 Kansas ...........: 55 80 70 75 130 120 175 160 430 435 Nebraska .........: 55 55 60 55 130 95 225 220 470 425 Texas ............: 160 180 105 100 155 160 150 140 570 580 : Other States .....: 95 85 55 40 90 67 175 140 415 332 : United States ....: 395 435 310 290 555 477 795 710 2,055 1,912 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2013 and 2014 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2014 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2013 : May 2014 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 26 25 22 85 88 California .......: 53 60 40 75 67 Colorado .........: 145 145 150 103 103 Idaho ............: 45 32 39 87 122 Iowa .............: 73 70 70 96 100 Kansas ...........: 390 400 420 108 105 Minnesota ........: 15 22 15 100 68 Nebraska .........: 480 485 500 104 103 Oklahoma .........: 53 55 46 87 84 South Dakota .....: 41 41 45 110 110 Texas ............: 480 450 420 88 93 Washington .......: 48 45 44 92 98 : Other States .....: 31 35 36 116 103 : United States ....: 1,880 1,865 1,847 98 99 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2013 and 2014 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2014 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2013 : May 2014 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 3 5 5 167 100 Colorado .........: 10 25 5 50 20 Idaho ............: 1 1 2 200 200 Iowa .............: 2 4 4 200 100 Kansas ...........: 10 25 15 150 60 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 10 20 25 250 125 Oklahoma .........: 1 2 1 100 50 South Dakota .....: 1 3 1 100 33 Texas ............: 15 10 10 67 100 Washington .......: 2 2 1 50 50 : Other States .....: 6 2 4 67 200 : United States ....: 63 101 75 119 74 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States: 2013 and 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : 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, : 2013 : 2014 : 2014 : 2013 : 2014 : 2014 : 2013 : 2014 : 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : 1,000 Head : Arizona ..........: 262 272 268 5 5 4 0 0 0 California .......: 445 435 390 68 40 42 2 0 3 Colorado .........: 590 640 560 325 325 305 5 5 5 Idaho ............: 102 124 101 92 84 88 1 2 1 Iowa .............: 430 490 430 150 180 190 0 0 0 Kansas ...........: 1,080 1,120 970 930 960 925 10 10 5 Minnesota ........: 111 103 95 13 32 26 1 1 1 Nebraska .........: 1,355 1,680 1,470 810 775 765 15 45 25 Oklahoma .........: 200 180 170 105 95 85 0 0 0 South Dakota .....: 105 136 113 71 86 80 24 18 17 Texas ............: 1,560 1,550 1,580 999 949 909 1 1 1 Washington .......: 104 130 107 96 79 85 3 1 1 : Other States .....: 193 215 210 112 104 99 0 1 1 : United States ....: 6,537 7,075 6,464 3,776 3,714 3,603 62 84 60 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 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 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 10.1 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 34,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 8 times and has been below the latest estimate 7 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 34 7 8 : Placements ...................: 1.6 2.8 16 0 88 4 12 : Marketings ...................: 1.3 2.3 14 0 67 0 12 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ...... (202) 720-3040 Doug Bounds - Hogs and Pigs .................. (202) 720-3106 Donnie Fike - Dairy Products ................. (202) 690-3236 Tiffany Hora - Livestock Slaughter ........... (515) 284-4340 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 Vacant - Sheep and Goats...................... (202) 720-3570 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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