Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released June 19, 2020, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Down 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 11.7 million head on June 1, 2020. The inventory was slightly below June 1, 2019. This is the second highest June 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. Placements in feedlots during May totaled 2.04 million head, 1 percent below 2019. Net placements were 1.97 million head. During May, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 375,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 305,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 485,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 532,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 235,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 105,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during May totaled 1.50 million head, 28 percent below 2019. Marketings were the lowest for May since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 66,000 head during May, 8 percent below 2019. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: June 1, 2019 and 2020 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2019 : 2020 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed May 1 ..........................: 11,807 11,200 95 Placed on feed during May ..............: 2,063 2,037 99 Fed cattle marketed during May .........: 2,070 1,500 72 Other disappearance during May .........: 72 66 92 On feed June 1 .........................: 11,728 11,671 100 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: May 1, 2019 and 2020 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2019 : 2020 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed April 1 ........................: 11,953 11,297 95 Placed on feed during April ............: 1,842 1,432 78 Fed cattle marketed during April .......: 1,928 1,459 76 Other disappearance during April .......: 60 70 117 On feed May 1 ..........................: 11,807 11,200 95 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2019 and 2020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : June 1, 2020 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : June 1, 2019 : May 1, 2020 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 298 265 271 91 102 California .......: 535 530 545 102 103 Colorado .........: 1,060 950 1,010 95 106 Idaho ............: 285 280 280 98 100 Iowa .............: 660 620 640 97 103 Kansas ...........: 2,380 2,320 2,430 102 105 Minnesota ........: 130 130 130 100 100 Nebraska .........: 2,430 2,370 2,410 99 102 Oklahoma .........: 315 295 315 100 107 South Dakota .....: 230 205 200 87 98 Texas ............: 2,870 2,690 2,930 102 109 Washington .......: 240 245 230 96 94 : Other States .....: 295 300 280 95 93 : United States ....: 11,728 11,200 11,671 100 104 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2019 and 2020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During May 2020 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : May 2019 : April 2020 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 23 25 23 100 92 California .......: 72 68 76 106 112 Colorado .........: 160 115 210 131 183 Idaho ............: 37 26 36 97 138 Iowa .............: 68 62 75 110 121 Kansas ...........: 450 355 485 108 137 Minnesota ........: 16 13 11 69 85 Nebraska .........: 460 310 410 89 132 Oklahoma .........: 73 37 65 89 176 South Dakota .....: 40 23 33 83 143 Texas ............: 575 330 565 98 171 Washington .......: 37 34 16 43 47 : Other States .....: 52 34 32 62 94 : United States ....: 2,063 1,432 2,037 99 142 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2019 and 2020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During May 2019 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 35 45 35 (D) (D) 160 Kansas ........: 50 70 130 125 75 (D) (D) 450 Nebraska ......: 40 45 85 145 145 (D) (D) 460 Texas .........: 145 120 165 115 30 (D) (D) 575 : Other States ..: 110 50 85 108 65 (D) (D) 418 : United States .: 370 305 500 538 (X) 235 115 2,063 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 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 May 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 ......: 35 30 50 55 40 (D) (D) 210 Kansas ........: 50 65 140 140 90 (D) (D) 485 Nebraska ......: 30 35 80 145 120 (D) (D) 410 Texas .........: 150 120 145 110 40 (D) (D) 565 : Other States ..: 110 55 70 82 50 (D) (D) 367 : United States .: 375 305 485 532 (X) 235 105 2,037 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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: 2019 and 2020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During May 2020 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : May 2019 : April 2020 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 26 21 16 62 76 California .......: 63 62 54 86 87 Colorado .........: 150 120 140 93 117 Idaho ............: 35 30 35 100 117 Iowa .............: 85 68 52 61 76 Kansas ...........: 440 310 365 83 118 Minnesota ........: 25 12 10 40 83 Nebraska .........: 570 315 355 62 113 Oklahoma .........: 62 46 44 71 96 South Dakota .....: 49 30 34 69 113 Texas ............: 485 390 315 65 81 Washington .......: 31 23 30 97 130 : Other States .....: 49 32 50 102 156 : United States ....: 2,070 1,459 1,500 72 103 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2019 and 2020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During May 2020 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : May 2019 : April 2020 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 4 11 7 175 64 Colorado .........: 10 5 10 100 200 Idaho ............: 2 1 1 50 100 Iowa .............: 3 4 3 100 75 Kansas ...........: 10 15 10 100 67 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 20 15 15 75 100 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 6 3 4 67 133 Texas ............: 10 10 10 100 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 3 2 2 67 100 : United States ....: 72 70 66 92 94 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 0.1 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 11.7 million head by more than 0.1 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 4,000 head, ranging from 0 to 15,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 8 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 ---- : Number on feed ...............: 0.1 0.1 4 0 15 3 8 : Placements ...................: 0.2 0.4 3 0 15 6 3 : Marketings ...................: 0.0 0.0 0 0 2 0 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Holly Brenize - Sheep and Goats .............. (202) 720-0585 Ryan Cowen - Cattle, Cattle on Feed .......... (202) 720-3040 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 Suzanne Richards - Dairy Products ............ (202) 720-4448 Seth Riggins - Hogs and Pigs ................. (202) 720-3106 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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