Mt An 2-1 (4-06) Cattle On Feed National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released April 21, 2006, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Cattle on Feed" call Mike Miller at (202) 720-3040, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. U.S. Cattle on Feed Up 9 Percent Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.8 million head on April 1, 2006. The inventory was 9 percent above April 1, 2005 and 10 percent above April 1, 2004. This is the highest April 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. The inventory included 7.74 million steers and steer calves, up 11 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 66 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.0 million head, up 5 percent from 2005. Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.84 million, 5 percent above 2005 and 1 percent above 2004. Net placements were 1.75 million. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 380,000, 600-699 pounds were 342,000, 700-799 pounds were 565,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 550,000. Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.96 million, down slightly from 2005 and slightly below 2004. Other disappearance totaled 90,000 during March, 32 percent above 2005 and 34 percent above 2004. Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, United States, April 1, 2004-2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : 2006 as % of Item :-------------------------------------------- : 2004 : 2005 : 2006 : 2004 : 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 Head ------ Percent : On Feed Mar 1 1/ : 10,987 11,154 12,023 109 108 Placed on Feed During Mar : 1,810 1,750 1,837 101 105 Fed Cattle Marketed During Mar : 1,967 1,963 1,958 100 100 Other Disappearance During Mar 2/ : 67 68 90 134 132 On Feed Apr 1 1/ : 10,763 10,873 11,812 110 109 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, March 1, 2004-2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : 2006 as % of Item :-------------------------------------------- : 2004 : 2005 : 2006 : 2004 : 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 Head ------ Percent : On Feed Feb 1 1/ : 11,138 11,342 12,110 109 107 Placed on Feed During Feb : 1,612 1,523 1,598 99 105 Fed Cattle Marketed During Feb : 1,694 1,634 1,612 95 99 Other Disappearance During Feb 2/ : 69 77 73 106 95 On Feed Mar 1 1/ : 10,987 11,154 12,023 109 108 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, April 1, 2004-2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : 2006 as % of Item :-------------------------------------------- : 2004 : 2005 : 2006 : 2004 : 2005 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 Head ----- Percent : Class on Feed Apr 1 : Steers and Steer Calves : 6,630 6,992 7,740 117 111 Heifers and Heifer Calves : 4,066 3,803 3,997 98 105 Cows and Bulls : 67 78 75 112 96 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States 2005-2006 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Apr 1, 2006 : : :------------------------------------------ State : Apr 1, 2005 : Mar 1, 2006 : : as % of : as % of : : : Number : 2005 : Mar -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 Head ------------ ---- Percent ---- : AZ : 326 351 351 108 100 CA : 500 550 535 107 97 CO : 1,020 1,090 1,070 105 98 ID : 240 255 250 104 98 IA : 455 520 500 110 96 KS : 2,340 2,610 2,590 111 99 NE : 2,260 2,450 2,400 106 98 NM : 113 143 139 123 97 OK : 325 365 360 111 99 SD : 205 210 210 102 100 TX : 2,620 3,010 2,940 112 98 WA : 159 154 152 96 99 : Oth Sts: 310 315 315 102 100 : US : 10,873 12,023 11,812 109 98 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 2005-2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During Mar 2006 : During : During :------------------------------------------ State : Mar 2005 : Feb 2006 : : as % of : as % of : : : Number : 2005 : Feb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 Head ----------- ---- Percent ---- : AZ : 27 31 30 111 97 CA : 65 63 59 91 94 CO : 165 150 155 94 103 ID : 44 32 42 95 131 IA : 55 60 55 100 92 KS : 445 410 480 108 117 NE : 300 330 335 112 102 NM : 13 13 21 162 162 OK : 61 49 68 111 139 SD : 31 33 36 116 109 TX : 480 360 485 101 135 WA : 22 25 26 118 104 : Oth Sts: 42 42 45 107 107 : US : 1,750 1,598 1,837 105 115 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Number Placed on Feed by Weight Group, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States, 2005-2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During March :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Under 600 : 600-699 : 700-799 : 800 Plus : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2005 : 2006 : 2005 : 2006 : 2005 : 2006 : 2005 : 2006 : 2005 : 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : CO : 15 25 35 30 65 60 50 40 165 155 KS : 50 70 85 80 170 165 140 165 445 480 NE : 34 50 52 50 92 90 122 145 300 335 TX : 85 120 105 120 190 165 100 80 480 485 : Oth Sts : 115 115 43 62 92 85 110 120 360 382 : US : 299 380 320 342 609 565 522 550 1,750 1,837 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : During February :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : Under 600 : 600-699 : 700-799 : 800 Plus : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2005 : 2006 : 2005 : 2006 : 2005 : 2006 : 2005 : 2006 : 2005 : 2006 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : CO : 15 20 45 30 70 55 45 45 175 150 KS : 50 60 75 85 125 145 110 120 360 410 NE : 42 55 63 60 111 105 99 110 315 330 TX : 70 110 75 70 135 120 60 60 340 360 : Oth Sts : 100 110 50 55 85 85 98 98 333 348 : US : 277 355 308 300 526 510 412 433 1,523 1,598 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Number Marketed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States 2005-2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During Mar 2006 : During : During :------------------------------------------ State : Mar 2005 : Feb 2006 : : as % of : as % of : : : Number : 2005 : Feb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 Head ----------- ---- Percent ---- : AZ : 24 24 28 117 117 CA : 70 56 68 97 121 CO : 175 165 165 94 100 ID : 53 38 45 85 118 IA : 64 58 73 114 126 KS : 460 360 470 102 131 NE : 350 360 370 106 103 NM : 23 14 23 100 164 OK : 73 56 72 99 129 SD : 34 29 35 103 121 TX : 540 370 540 100 146 WA : 47 22 27 57 123 : Oth Sts: 50 60 42 84 70 : US : 1,963 1,612 1,958 100 121 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States 2005-2006 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During Mar 2006 : During : During :------------------------------------------ State : Mar 2005 : Feb 2006 : : as % of : as % of : : : Number : 2005 : Feb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 Head ---------- ---- Percent ---- : AZ : 1 2 2 200 100 CA : 10 7 6 60 86 CO : 10 5 10 100 200 ID : 1 4 2 200 50 IA : 1 2 2 200 100 KS : 15 20 30 200 150 NE : 10 10 15 150 150 NM : 2 2 2 100 100 OK : 3 3 1 33 33 SD : 2 4 1 50 25 TX : 10 10 15 150 150 WA : 1 2 1 100 50 : Oth Sts: 2 2 3 150 150 : US : 68 73 90 132 123 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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, 2005-2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers & Steer Calves :Heifers & Heifer Calves: Cows and Bulls :----------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Apr 1, :Jan 1, :Apr 1, :Apr 1, :Jan 1, :Apr 1, :Apr 1, :Jan 1, :Apr 1, : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 : 2005 : 2006 : 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : AZ : 320 332 342 6 2 9 0 0 0 CA : 480 506 500 20 44 35 0 0 0 CO : 620 690 740 390 380 320 10 10 10 ID : 149 167 158 91 106 90 0 2 2 IA : 300 340 355 154 169 144 1 1 1 KS : 1,320 1,390 1,460 995 1,090 1,110 25 20 20 NE : 1,410 1,460 1,480 835 950 900 15 20 20 NM : 71 78 77 42 65 62 0 0 0 OK : 215 265 245 106 105 115 4 0 0 SD : 110 105 115 83 73 79 12 27 16 TX : 1,680 1,900 1,940 936 1,017 999 4 3 1 WA : 92 92 88 63 59 62 4 1 2 : Oth Sts : 225 245 240 82 87 72 3 3 3 : US : 6,992 7,570 7,740 3,803 4,147 3,997 78 87 75 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 1000+ 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 10 years is .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 11.8 million head by more than .1 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed .1 percent. The following table also shows a 10 year 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 10 years have averaged 7,000 head, ranging from 0 to 15,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been below the final estimate 7 times, and above the final estimate 0 times. This does not imply that the initial estimate is likely to understate or overstate final inventory. Reliability of U.S. April 1 Cattle on Feed Estimates 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : 90% : Difference Between : : : Confidence : First and Final : Number of : Root : Level : Estimates 1/ : Years Item : Mean :--------------------------------------------------------- : Square : : : : : : First : First : Error :Percent: (000) :Average:Smallest:Largest: Above : Below : : : Head : : : : Final : Final -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent -------- 1,000 Head -------- Number : Number on : Feed : 0.1 0.1 17.5 7 0 15 0 7 : Placements : 0.4 0.8 15.1 7 0 15 3 5 : Marketings : 0.3 0.5 10.2 4 0 10 2 4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Based on data for the past 10 years. ACCESS TO REPORTS!! 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