Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released March 25, 2022, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Up 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 12.2 million head on March 1, 2022. The inventory was 1 percent above March 1, 2021. This is the highest March 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. Placements in feedlots during February totaled 1.85 million head, 9 percent above 2021. Net placements were 1.79 million head. During February, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 360,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 325,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 505,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 468,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 135,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 55,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during February totaled 1.83 million head, 5 percent above 2021. Other disappearance totaled 59,000 head during February, 2 percent above 2021. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: March 1, 2021 and 2022 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2021 : 2022 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed February 1 .....................: 12,106 12,199 101 Placed on feed during February .........: 1,691 1,848 109 Fed cattle marketed during February ....: 1,739 1,825 105 Other disappearance during February ....: 58 59 102 On feed March 1 ........................: 12,000 12,163 101 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: February 1, 2021 and 2022 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2021 : 2022 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed January 1 ......................: 11,967 12,037 101 Placed on feed during January ..........: 2,024 1,999 99 Fed cattle marketed during January .....: 1,829 1,773 97 Other disappearance during January .....: 56 64 114 On feed February 1 .....................: 12,106 12,199 101 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : March 1, 2022 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : March 1, 2021 :February 1, 2022 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 270 279 283 105 101 California .......: 565 560 560 99 100 Colorado .........: 1,100 1,140 1,120 102 98 Idaho ............: 290 305 305 105 100 Iowa .............: 630 610 610 97 100 Kansas ...........: 2,470 2,540 2,510 102 99 Minnesota ........: 115 100 100 87 100 Nebraska .........: 2,610 2,660 2,690 103 101 Oklahoma .........: 315 310 300 95 97 South Dakota .....: 245 235 235 96 100 Texas ............: 2,870 2,940 2,940 102 100 Washington .......: 225 210 205 91 98 : Other States .....: 295 310 305 103 98 : United States ....: 12,000 12,199 12,163 101 100 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During February 2022 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :February 2021 : January 2022 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 29 31 30 103 97 California .......: 67 52 61 91 117 Colorado .........: 165 200 175 106 88 Idaho ............: 36 37 39 108 105 Iowa .............: 111 110 106 95 96 Kansas ...........: 380 480 430 113 90 Minnesota ........: 13 12 15 115 125 Nebraska .........: 440 535 495 113 93 Oklahoma .........: 34 39 35 103 90 South Dakota .....: 39 37 39 100 105 Texas ............: 310 390 350 113 90 Washington .......: 25 31 28 112 90 : Other States .....: 42 45 45 107 100 : United States ....: 1,691 1,999 1,848 109 92 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During February 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 30 40 45 20 (D) (D) 165 Kansas ........: 40 65 125 110 40 (D) (D) 380 Nebraska ......: 30 65 135 135 75 (D) (D) 440 Texas .........: 125 65 70 40 10 (D) (D) 310 : Other States ..: 110 70 95 86 35 (D) (D) 396 : United States .: 335 295 465 416 (X) 125 55 1,691 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During January 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 ......: 40 45 55 40 20 (D) (D) 200 Kansas ........: 55 105 165 110 45 (D) (D) 480 Nebraska ......: 45 120 160 145 65 (D) (D) 535 Texas .........: 155 90 80 50 15 (D) (D) 390 : Other States ..: 125 85 85 69 30 (D) (D) 394 : United States .: 420 445 545 414 (X) 105 70 1,999 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 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 ..: 110 70 95 88 35 (D) (D) 398 : United States .: 360 325 505 468 (X) 135 55 1,848 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During February 2022 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :February 2021 : January 2022 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 24 23 25 104 109 California .......: 56 41 54 96 132 Colorado .........: 180 185 190 106 103 Idaho ............: 35 40 38 109 95 Iowa .............: 99 98 103 104 105 Kansas ...........: 420 420 450 107 107 Minnesota ........: 12 11 14 117 127 Nebraska .........: 430 460 455 106 99 Oklahoma .........: 38 37 44 116 119 South Dakota .....: 36 30 37 103 123 Texas ............: 335 355 335 100 94 Washington .......: 29 30 32 110 107 : Other States .....: 45 43 48 107 112 : United States ....: 1,739 1,773 1,825 105 103 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During February 2022 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :February 2021 : January 2022 : Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 6 6 7 117 117 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 1 2 1 100 50 Iowa .............: 2 2 3 150 150 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 10 15 10 100 67 Oklahoma .........: 1 2 1 100 50 South Dakota .....: 3 2 2 67 100 Texas ............: 15 15 15 100 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 2 2 2 100 100 : United States ....: 58 64 59 102 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 12.2 million head by more than 0.0 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.0 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 6,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 0 times and has been below the latest estimate 5 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 0.0 1 0 6 5 0 : Placements ...................: 0.2 0.4 3 0 15 8 7 : Marketings ...................: 0.2 0.4 2 0 15 5 7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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