Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released June 21, 2013, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Down 3 Percent Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.7 million head on June 1, 2013. The inventory was 3 percent below June 1, 2012. Placements in feedlots during May totaled 2.05 million, 2 percent below 2012. Net placements were 1.95 million head. During May, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 390,000, 600-699 pounds were 304,000, 700-799 pounds were 555,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 800,000. Marketings of fed cattle during May totaled 1.95 million, 3 percent below 2012. Marketings are the second lowest since the series began in 1996 for the month of May. Other disappearance totaled 100,000 during May, unchanged from 2012. Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: June 1, 2012 and 2013 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2012 : 2013 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed May 1 ..........................: 11,110 10,735 97 Placed on feed during May ..............: 2,084 2,049 98 Fed cattle marketed during May .........: 2,017 1,948 97 Other disappearance during May .........: 100 100 100 On feed June 1 .........................: 11,077 10,736 97 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: May 1, 2012 and 2013 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2012 : 2013 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed April 1 ........................: 11,482 10,909 95 Placed on feed during April ............: 1,521 1,750 115 Fed cattle marketed during April .......: 1,815 1,855 102 Other disappearance during April .......: 78 69 88 On feed May 1 ..........................: 11,110 10,735 97 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2012 and 2013 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : June 1, 2013 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : June 1, 2012 : May 1, 2013 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ------------ ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 282 275 272 96 99 California .......: 490 490 510 104 104 Colorado .........: 1,020 960 960 94 100 Idaho ............: 210 210 205 98 98 Iowa .............: 640 620 610 95 98 Kansas ...........: 2,090 2,060 2,060 99 100 Nebraska .........: 2,360 2,390 2,320 98 97 Oklahoma .........: 320 295 310 97 105 South Dakota .....: 230 225 215 93 96 Texas ............: 2,770 2,540 2,630 95 104 Washington .......: 220 220 214 97 97 : Other States .....: 445 450 430 97 96 : United States ....: 11,077 10,735 10,736 97 100 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2012 and 2013 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During May 2013 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : May 2012 : April 2013 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 36 26 25 69 96 California .......: 70 65 77 110 118 Colorado .........: 180 140 170 94 121 Idaho ............: 29 33 41 141 124 Iowa .............: 59 89 65 110 73 Kansas ...........: 445 350 430 97 123 Nebraska .........: 460 450 460 100 102 Oklahoma .........: 81 51 78 96 153 South Dakota .....: 35 28 39 111 139 Texas ............: 580 435 570 98 131 Washington .......: 43 26 40 93 154 : Other States .....: 66 57 54 82 95 : United States ....: 2,084 1,750 2,049 98 117 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2012 and 2013 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During May :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Colorado .........: 35 30 30 20 45 50 70 70 180 170 Kansas ...........: 90 55 90 70 130 130 135 175 445 430 Nebraska .........: 70 50 60 55 130 130 200 225 460 460 Texas ............: 220 160 125 105 140 155 95 150 580 570 : Other States .....: 105 95 60 54 85 90 169 180 419 419 : United States ....: 520 390 365 304 530 555 669 800 2,084 2,049 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : During April :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Colorado .........: 25 20 20 35 30 40 45 45 120 140 Kansas ...........: 60 55 55 50 85 100 100 145 300 350 Nebraska .........: 50 70 50 70 90 110 180 200 370 450 Texas ............: 130 140 80 65 105 115 95 115 410 435 : Other States .....: 90 85 45 55 70 90 116 145 321 375 : United States ....: 355 370 250 275 380 455 536 650 1,521 1,750 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2012 and 2013 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During May 2013 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : May 2012 : April 2013 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 29 28 27 93 96 California .......: 53 52 54 102 104 Colorado .........: 170 150 150 88 100 Idaho ............: 32 36 45 141 125 Iowa .............: 64 97 72 113 74 Kansas ...........: 415 365 410 99 112 Nebraska .........: 540 470 510 94 109 Oklahoma .........: 54 60 61 113 102 South Dakota .....: 45 32 45 100 141 Texas ............: 500 470 465 93 99 Washington .......: 46 35 45 98 129 : Other States .....: 69 60 64 93 107 : United States ....: 2,017 1,855 1,948 97 105 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2012 and 2013 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During May 2013 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : May 2012 : April 2013 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 2 3 3 150 100 Colorado .........: 20 10 20 100 200 Idaho ............: 2 2 1 50 50 Iowa .............: 5 2 3 60 150 Kansas ...........: 20 15 20 100 133 Nebraska .........: 20 10 20 100 200 Oklahoma .........: 2 1 2 100 200 South Dakota .....: 5 1 4 80 400 Texas ............: 20 15 15 75 100 Washington .......: 1 4 1 100 25 : Other States .....: 2 5 10 500 200 : United States ....: 100 69 100 100 145 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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 11 of the 16 States. Data collected from the remaining 5 States are used to establish the "Other States" estimates. These 5 States include Illinois, Minnesota, 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 each State office. 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 0.2 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 10.7 million head by more than 0.2 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.3 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 10,000 head, ranging from 0 to 47,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 8 times and has been below the latest estimate 2 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 ...............: 0.2 0.3 10 0 47 2 8 : Placements ...................: 0.3 0.5 3 0 20 3 5 : Marketings ...................: 0.3 0.5 2 0 20 5 3 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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@nass.usda.gov Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch ........... (202) 720-3570 Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ........... (202) 690-2424 Travis Averill - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ...... (202) 720-3040 Doug Bounds - Hogs and Pigs .................. (202) 720-3106 Alissa Cowell-Mytar - Sheep and Goats ........ (202) 720-4751 Donnie Fike - Dairy Products ................. (202) 690-3236 Tiffany Hora - Livestock Slaughter ........... (515) 284-4340 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 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: http://www.nass.usda.gov Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e- mail subscription. 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