Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released May 21, 2021, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Up 5 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 11.7 million head on May 1, 2021. The inventory was 5 percent above May 1, 2020. This is the second highest May 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. Placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.82 million head, 27 percent above 2020. Net placements were 1.77 million head. During April, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 380,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 250,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 420,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 481,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 220,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 70,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during April totaled 1.94 million head, 33 percent above 2020. Other disappearance totaled 55,000 head during April, 21 percent below 2020. Other disappearance was the lowest for April since the series began in 1996. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: May 1, 2020 and 2021 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2020 : 2021 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed April 1 ........................: 11,297 11,897 105 Placed on feed during April ............: 1,432 1,821 127 Fed cattle marketed during April .......: 1,459 1,938 133 Other disappearance during April .......: 70 55 79 On feed May 1 ..........................: 11,200 11,725 105 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: April 1, 2020 and 2021 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2020 : 2021 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed March 1 ........................: 11,811 12,000 102 Placed on feed during March ............: 1,557 1,998 128 Fed cattle marketed during March .......: 2,010 2,041 102 Other disappearance during March .......: 61 60 98 On feed April 1 ........................: 11,297 11,897 105 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2020 and 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : May 1, 2021 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : May 1, 2020 : April 1, 2021 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 265 272 275 104 101 California .......: 530 555 545 103 98 Colorado .........: 950 1,060 1,040 109 98 Idaho ............: 280 290 295 105 102 Iowa .............: 620 630 630 102 100 Kansas ...........: 2,320 2,480 2,470 106 100 Minnesota ........: 130 115 110 85 96 Nebraska .........: 2,370 2,580 2,530 107 98 Oklahoma .........: 295 300 275 93 92 South Dakota .....: 205 240 235 115 98 Texas ............: 2,690 2,870 2,820 105 98 Washington .......: 245 205 200 82 98 : Other States .....: 300 300 300 100 100 : United States ....: 11,200 11,897 11,725 105 99 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2020 and 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During April 2021 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : April 2020 : March 2021 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 25 30 27 108 90 California .......: 68 63 62 91 98 Colorado .........: 115 180 160 139 89 Idaho ............: 26 35 43 165 123 Iowa .............: 62 112 101 163 90 Kansas ...........: 355 490 435 123 89 Minnesota ........: 13 16 13 100 81 Nebraska .........: 310 440 425 137 97 Oklahoma .........: 37 55 39 105 71 South Dakota .....: 23 39 36 157 92 Texas ............: 330 465 410 124 88 Washington .......: 34 19 26 76 137 : Other States .....: 34 54 44 129 81 : United States ....: 1,432 1,998 1,821 127 91 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2020 and 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During April 2020 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 15 25 30 20 (D) (D) 115 Kansas ........: 35 45 100 115 60 (D) (D) 355 Nebraska ......: 20 30 65 105 90 (D) (D) 310 Texas .........: 110 55 65 70 30 (D) (D) 330 : Other States ..: 105 35 60 72 50 (D) (D) 322 : United States .: 295 180 315 392 (X) 180 70 1,432 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During March 2021 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 30 45 45 25 (D) (D) 180 Kansas ........: 45 75 160 150 60 (D) (D) 490 Nebraska ......: 30 60 115 145 90 (D) (D) 440 Texas .........: 170 100 95 80 20 (D) (D) 465 : Other States ..: 125 60 95 103 40 (D) (D) 423 : United States .: 405 325 510 523 (X) 175 60 1,998 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During April 2021 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 40 30 (D) (D) 160 Kansas ........: 45 55 130 135 70 (D) (D) 435 Nebraska ......: 30 45 95 145 110 (D) (D) 425 Texas .........: 150 80 85 70 25 (D) (D) 410 : Other States ..: 125 45 75 91 55 (D) (D) 391 : United States .: 380 250 420 481 (X) 220 70 1,821 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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: 2020 and 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During April 2021 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : April 2020 : March 2021 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 21 27 23 110 85 California .......: 62 66 65 105 98 Colorado .........: 120 215 175 146 81 Idaho ............: 30 34 37 123 109 Iowa .............: 68 109 98 144 90 Kansas ...........: 310 470 435 140 93 Minnesota ........: 12 15 17 142 113 Nebraska .........: 315 455 465 148 102 Oklahoma .........: 46 69 63 137 91 South Dakota .....: 30 41 38 127 93 Texas ............: 390 455 450 115 99 Washington .......: 23 38 30 130 79 : Other States .....: 32 47 42 131 89 : United States ....: 1,459 2,041 1,938 133 95 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2020 and 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During April 2021 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : April 2020 : March 2021 : Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 11 7 7 64 100 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 1 1 1 100 100 Iowa .............: 4 3 3 75 100 Kansas ...........: 15 10 10 67 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 15 15 10 67 67 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 3 3 3 100 100 Texas ............: 10 10 10 100 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 2 2 2 100 100 : United States ....: 70 60 55 79 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 0.0 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 11.7 million head by more than 0.0 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.1 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 3,000 head, ranging from 0 to 15,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 4 times and has been below the latest estimate 3 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 ......................: 0.0 0.1 3 0 15 3 4 : Placements ...................: 0.3 0.4 3 0 15 8 3 : Marketings ...................: 0.2 0.4 1 0 15 4 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Anthony Fischer - Hogs and Pigs .............. (202) 720-3106 Logan Hartley-Sanguinett - Sheep and Goats ... (202) 690-3236 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 Suzanne Richards - Dairy Products ............ (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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