Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released March 17, 2023, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Down 4 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 March 1, 2023. The inventory was 4 percent below March 1, 2022. Placements in feedlots during February totaled 1.73 million head, 7 percent below 2022. Net placements were 1.68 million head. During February, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 345,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 315,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 470,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 424,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 130,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 50,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during February totaled 1.74 million head, 5 percent below 2022. Other disappearance totaled 58,000 head during February, 2 percent below 2022. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: March 1, 2022 and 2023 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2022 : 2023 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed February 1 .....................: 12,209 11,704 96 Placed on feed during February .........: 1,868 1,734 93 Fed cattle marketed during February ....: 1,825 1,735 95 Other disappearance during February ....: 59 58 98 On feed March 1 ........................: 12,193 11,645 96 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: February 1, 2022 and 2023 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2022 : 2023 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed January 1 ......................: 12,042 11,682 97 Placed on feed during January ..........: 2,004 1,931 96 Fed cattle marketed during January .....: 1,773 1,846 104 Other disappearance during January .....: 64 63 98 On feed February 1 .....................: 12,209 11,704 96 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2022 and 2023 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : March 1, 2023 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : March 1, 2022 :February 1, 2023 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 283 264 260 92 98 California .......: 560 520 515 92 99 Colorado .........: 1,120 1,030 1,010 90 98 Idaho ............: 310 325 325 105 100 Iowa .............: 620 620 620 100 100 Kansas ...........: 2,510 2,450 2,460 98 100 Minnesota ........: 100 95 95 95 100 Nebraska .........: 2,690 2,570 2,530 94 98 Oklahoma .........: 300 275 270 90 98 South Dakota .....: 235 215 215 91 100 Texas ............: 2,940 2,770 2,780 95 100 Washington .......: 220 255 255 116 100 : Other States .....: 305 315 310 102 98 : United States ....: 12,193 11,704 11,645 96 99 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2022 and 2023 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During February 2023 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :February 2022 : January 2023 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 30 24 23 77 96 California .......: 61 61 55 90 90 Colorado .........: 175 165 140 80 85 Idaho ............: 42 41 36 86 88 Iowa .............: 116 105 105 91 100 Kansas ...........: 430 500 425 99 85 Minnesota ........: 15 13 14 93 108 Nebraska .........: 495 490 435 88 89 Oklahoma .........: 35 37 26 74 70 South Dakota .....: 39 40 37 95 93 Texas ............: 350 380 360 103 95 Washington .......: 35 28 36 103 129 : Other States .....: 45 47 42 93 89 : United States ....: 1,868 1,931 1,734 93 90 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2022 and 2023 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During February 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 35 45 45 20 (D) (D) 175 Kansas ........: 45 75 140 125 45 (D) (D) 430 Nebraska ......: 35 70 150 160 80 (D) (D) 495 Texas .........: 140 75 75 50 10 (D) (D) 350 : Other States ..: 115 75 95 98 35 (D) (D) 418 : United States .: 365 330 505 478 (X) 135 55 1,868 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During January 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 40 45 30 20 (D) (D) 165 Kansas ........: 55 110 180 110 45 (D) (D) 500 Nebraska ......: 40 100 150 140 60 (D) (D) 490 Texas .........: 155 85 80 50 10 (D) (D) 380 : Other States ..: 125 85 85 71 30 (D) (D) 396 : United States .: 405 420 540 401 (X) 100 65 1,931 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During February 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 20 (D) (D) 140 Kansas ........: 45 75 145 115 45 (D) (D) 425 Nebraska ......: 30 65 130 140 70 (D) (D) 435 Texas .........: 145 80 75 50 10 (D) (D) 360 : Other States ..: 100 70 85 84 35 (D) (D) 374 : United States .: 345 315 470 424 (X) 130 50 1,734 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 February 2023 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :February 2022 : January 2023 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 25 26 26 104 100 California .......: 54 49 53 98 108 Colorado .........: 190 170 155 82 91 Idaho ............: 36 35 35 97 100 Iowa .............: 103 103 103 100 100 Kansas ...........: 450 430 405 90 94 Minnesota ........: 14 12 13 93 108 Nebraska .........: 455 500 460 101 92 Oklahoma .........: 44 36 30 68 83 South Dakota .....: 37 33 35 95 106 Texas ............: 335 370 340 101 92 Washington .......: 34 37 35 103 95 : Other States .....: 48 45 45 94 100 : United States ....: 1,825 1,846 1,735 95 94 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2022 and 2023 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During February 2023 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :February 2022 : January 2023 : Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 7 7 7 100 100 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 1 1 1 100 100 Iowa .............: 3 2 2 67 100 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 10 20 15 150 75 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 2 2 2 100 100 Texas ............: 15 10 10 67 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 2 2 2 100 100 : United States ....: 59 63 58 98 92 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 21,000 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 15 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 21 0 65 15 0 : Placements ...................: 0.5 0.9 6 0 23 10 11 : Marketings ...................: 0.1 0.2 1 0 7 4 8 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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