Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released August 23, 2024, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Up Slightly Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.1 million head on August 1, 2024. The inventory was slightly above August 1, 2023. Placements in feedlots during July totaled 1.70 million head, 6 percent above 2023. Net placements were 1.65 million head. During July, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 390,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 265,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 385,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 387,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 200,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 75,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during July totaled 1.86 million head, 8 percent above 2023. Other disappearance totaled 56,000 head during July, 14 percent below 2023. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: August 1, 2023 and 2024 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2023 : 2024 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed July 1 .........................: 11,243 11,304 101 Placed on feed during July .............: 1,608 1,702 106 Fed cattle marketed during July ........: 1,722 1,855 108 Other disappearance during July ........: 65 56 86 On feed August 1 .......................: 11,064 11,095 100 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: July 1, 2023 and 2024 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2023 : 2024 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed June 1 .........................: 11,590 11,583 100 Placed on feed during June .............: 1,679 1,564 93 Fed cattle marketed during June ........: 1,957 1,786 91 Other disappearance during June ........: 69 57 83 On feed July 1 .........................: 11,243 11,304 101 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : August 1, 2024 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : August 1, 2023 : July 1, 2024 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 249 249 240 96 96 California .......: 525 530 520 99 98 Colorado .........: 980 970 960 98 99 Idaho ............: 280 330 310 111 94 Iowa .............: 640 650 650 102 100 Kansas ...........: 2,350 2,220 2,210 94 100 Minnesota ........: 95 105 100 105 95 Nebraska .........: 2,280 2,390 2,320 102 97 Oklahoma .........: 255 325 325 127 100 South Dakota .....: 170 205 190 112 93 Texas ............: 2,720 2,790 2,740 101 98 Washington .......: 235 240 240 102 100 : Other States .....: 285 300 290 102 97 : United States ....: 11,064 11,304 11,095 100 98 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During July 2024 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : July 2023 : June 2024 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 21 19 16 76 84 California .......: 44 65 45 102 69 Colorado .........: 115 150 145 126 97 Idaho ............: 33 34 32 97 94 Iowa .............: 51 47 56 110 119 Kansas ...........: 410 310 425 104 137 Minnesota ........: 9 10 8 89 80 Nebraska .........: 425 415 450 106 108 Oklahoma .........: 38 49 45 118 92 South Dakota .....: 21 24 21 100 88 Texas ............: 375 365 385 103 105 Washington .......: 33 39 37 112 95 : Other States .....: 33 37 37 112 100 : United States ....: 1,608 1,564 1,702 106 109 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During July 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 20 25 25 20 (D) (D) 115 Kansas ........: 55 70 125 105 55 (D) (D) 410 Nebraska ......: 35 50 95 130 115 (D) (D) 425 Texas .........: 170 80 70 40 15 (D) (D) 375 : Other States ..: 80 30 55 63 55 (D) (D) 283 : United States .: 365 250 370 363 (X) 185 75 1,608 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During June 2024 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ......: 35 25 35 35 20 (D) (D) 150 Kansas ........: 50 60 90 70 40 (D) (D) 310 Nebraska ......: 40 50 95 120 110 (D) (D) 415 Texas .........: 150 75 75 45 20 (D) (D) 365 : Other States ..: 90 45 55 79 55 (D) (D) 324 : United States .: 365 255 350 349 (X) 165 80 1,564 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During July 2024 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 35 30 25 (D) (D) 145 Kansas ........: 60 70 125 110 60 (D) (D) 425 Nebraska ......: 40 50 100 140 120 (D) (D) 450 Texas .........: 175 85 70 40 15 (D) (D) 385 : Other States ..: 85 35 55 67 55 (D) (D) 297 : United States .: 390 265 385 387 (X) 200 75 1,702 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During July 2024 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : July 2023 : June 2024 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 24 22 24 100 109 California .......: 51 54 49 96 91 Colorado .........: 120 135 150 125 111 Idaho ............: 46 38 51 111 134 Iowa .............: 59 56 55 93 98 Kansas ...........: 450 400 425 94 106 Minnesota ........: 13 9 12 92 133 Nebraska .........: 460 495 510 111 103 Oklahoma .........: 32 53 44 138 83 South Dakota .....: 29 36 34 117 94 Texas ............: 360 400 420 117 105 Washington .......: 37 43 36 97 84 : Other States .....: 41 45 45 110 100 : United States ....: 1,722 1,786 1,855 108 104 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During July 2024 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : July 2023 : June 2024 : Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 8 6 6 75 100 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 2 1 1 50 100 Iowa .............: 2 1 1 50 100 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 15 10 10 67 100 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 2 3 2 100 67 Texas ............: 15 15 15 100 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 2 2 2 100 100 : United States ....: 65 57 56 86 98 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 0.5 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 11.1 million head by more than 0.5 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.9 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 38,000 head, ranging from 0 to 115,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 0 times and has been below the latest estimate 18 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 ......................: 0.5 0.9 38 0 115 18 0 : Placements ...................: 0.5 0.9 6 0 24 7 11 : Marketings ...................: 0.1 0.2 1 0 6 9 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@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 Kim DaPra - Milk Production and Milk Cows.. (512) 501-3266 Donnie Fike - Dairy Products .............. (202) 690-3347 Ralph Mondesir - Hogs and Pigs ............ (202) 720-3106 Suzanne Richards - Sheep and Goats ........ (202) 720-4448 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: www.nass.usda.gov. Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e- mail subscription. 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