Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released September 24, 2021, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Down 1 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 11.2 million head on September 1, 2021. The inventory was 1 percent below September 1, 2020. This is the second highest September 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. Placements in feedlots during August totaled 2.10 million head, 2 percent above 2020. Net placements were 2.05 million head. During August, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 405,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 310,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 480,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 534,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 275,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 100,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during August totaled 1.89 million head, slightly below 2020. Other disappearance totaled 59,000 head during August, 7 percent above 2020. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: September 1, 2020 and 2021 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2020 : 2021 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed August 1 .......................: 11,284 11,074 98 Placed on feed during August ...........: 2,057 2,104 102 Fed cattle marketed during August ......: 1,892 1,885 100 Other disappearance during August ......: 55 59 107 On feed September 1 ....................: 11,394 11,234 99 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: August 1, 2020 and 2021 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2020 : 2021 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed July 1 .........................: 11,438 11,290 99 Placed on feed during July .............: 1,893 1,739 92 Fed cattle marketed during July ........: 1,990 1,900 95 Other disappearance during July ........: 57 55 96 On feed August 1 .......................: 11,284 11,074 98 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2020 and 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : September 1, 2021 : : :-------------------------------------------- State :September 1, 2020: August 1, 2021 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 264 274 269 102 98 California .......: 535 540 530 99 98 Colorado .........: 1,040 1,040 1,080 104 104 Idaho ............: 255 275 290 114 105 Iowa .............: 610 600 590 97 98 Kansas ...........: 2,470 2,410 2,470 100 102 Minnesota ........: 110 95 90 82 95 Nebraska .........: 2,280 2,200 2,280 100 104 Oklahoma .........: 310 270 275 89 102 South Dakota .....: 190 195 200 105 103 Texas ............: 2,850 2,720 2,700 95 99 Washington .......: 220 190 195 89 103 : Other States .....: 260 265 265 102 100 : United States ....: 11,394 11,074 11,234 99 101 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2020 and 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During August 2021 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : August 2020 : July 2021 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 15 22 19 127 86 California .......: 52 64 52 100 81 Colorado .........: 180 160 215 119 134 Idaho ............: 41 38 53 129 139 Iowa .............: 75 56 78 104 139 Kansas ...........: 540 440 530 98 120 Minnesota ........: 12 11 14 117 127 Nebraska .........: 505 440 560 111 127 Oklahoma .........: 58 38 57 98 150 South Dakota .....: 47 21 44 94 210 Texas ............: 440 370 395 90 107 Washington .......: 40 31 36 90 116 : Other States .....: 52 48 51 98 106 : United States ....: 2,057 1,739 2,104 102 121 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2020 and 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During August 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 30 35 50 40 (D) (D) 180 Kansas ........: 60 100 170 150 60 (D) (D) 540 Nebraska ......: 45 50 105 165 140 (D) (D) 505 Texas .........: 180 110 90 50 10 (D) (D) 440 : Other States ..: 95 45 70 107 75 (D) (D) 392 : United States .: 405 335 470 522 (X) 230 95 2,057 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During July 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 25 35 35 30 (D) (D) 160 Kansas ........: 55 70 145 115 55 (D) (D) 440 Nebraska ......: 35 45 95 150 115 (D) (D) 440 Texas .........: 155 80 75 45 15 (D) (D) 370 : Other States ..: 95 35 60 79 60 (D) (D) 329 : United States .: 375 255 410 424 (X) 205 70 1,739 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During August 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 60 45 (D) (D) 215 Kansas ........: 65 90 165 140 70 (D) (D) 530 Nebraska ......: 45 50 115 180 170 (D) (D) 560 Texas .........: 160 100 80 45 10 (D) (D) 395 : Other States ..: 100 40 75 109 80 (D) (D) 404 : United States .: 405 310 480 534 (X) 275 100 2,104 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 August 2021 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : August 2020 : July 2021 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 19 22 23 121 105 California .......: 54 56 54 100 96 Colorado .........: 155 175 170 110 97 Idaho ............: 45 41 37 82 90 Iowa .............: 83 53 86 104 162 Kansas ...........: 470 470 460 98 98 Minnesota ........: 21 15 18 86 120 Nebraska .........: 435 520 470 108 90 Oklahoma .........: 52 42 51 98 121 South Dakota .....: 34 25 37 109 148 Texas ............: 430 410 400 93 98 Washington .......: 44 30 30 68 100 : Other States .....: 50 41 49 98 120 : United States ....: 1,892 1,900 1,885 100 99 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2020 and 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During August 2021 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : August 2020 : July 2021 : Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 8 8 8 100 100 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 1 2 1 100 50 Iowa .............: 2 3 2 100 67 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 10 10 10 100 100 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 3 1 2 67 200 Texas ............: 10 10 15 150 150 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 2 2 2 100 100 : United States ....: 55 55 59 107 107 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 11.2 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 1,000 head, ranging from 0 to 15,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 1 time 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 1 0 15 3 1 : Placements ...................: 0.3 0.4 3 0 15 7 2 : Marketings ...................: 0.2 0.4 1 0 15 4 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 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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