Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released November 22, 2024, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Up 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 12.0 million head on November 1, 2024. The inventory was slightly above November 1, 2023. Placements in feedlots during October totaled 2.29 million head, 5 percent above 2023. Net placements were 2.23 million head. During October, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 585,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 480,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 490,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 436,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 215,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 80,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during October totaled 1.85 million head, 5 percent above 2023. Other disappearance totaled 55,000 head during October, unchanged from 2023. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: November 1, 2023 and 2024 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2023 : 2024 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed October 1 ......................: 11,604 11,600 100 Placed on feed during October ..........: 2,170 2,286 105 Fed cattle marketed during October .....: 1,763 1,845 105 Other disappearance during October .....: 55 55 100 On feed November 1 .....................: 11,956 11,986 100 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: October 1, 2023 and 2024 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2023 : 2024 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed September 1 ....................: 11,127 11,198 101 Placed on feed during September ........: 2,198 2,156 98 Fed cattle marketed during September ...: 1,664 1,698 102 Other disappearance during September ...: 57 56 98 On feed October 1 ......................: 11,604 11,600 100 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : November 1, 2024 : : :-------------------------------------------- State :November 1, 2023 : October 1, 2024 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 261 230 231 89 100 California .......: 505 515 515 102 100 Colorado .........: 1,030 1,000 1,060 103 106 Idaho ............: 320 330 330 103 100 Iowa .............: 650 660 670 103 102 Kansas ...........: 2,520 2,370 2,415 96 102 Minnesota ........: 100 100 105 105 105 Nebraska .........: 2,540 2,470 2,590 102 105 Oklahoma .........: 315 345 365 116 106 South Dakota .....: 220 195 225 102 115 Texas ............: 2,900 2,820 2,880 99 102 Washington .......: 270 255 270 100 106 : Other States .....: 325 310 330 102 106 : United States ....: 11,956 11,600 11,986 100 103 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During October 2024 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : October 2023 :September 2024: : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 26 16 21 81 131 California .......: 52 61 57 110 93 Colorado .........: 205 180 210 102 117 Idaho ............: 59 63 50 85 79 Iowa .............: 83 72 95 114 132 Kansas ...........: 440 505 485 110 96 Minnesota ........: 20 16 22 110 138 Nebraska .........: 610 615 625 102 102 Oklahoma .........: 58 57 66 114 116 South Dakota .....: 69 47 70 101 149 Texas ............: 440 425 470 107 111 Washington .......: 51 42 50 98 119 : Other States .....: 57 57 65 114 114 : United States ....: 2,170 2,156 2,286 105 106 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During October 2023 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 40 40 50 35 (D) (D) 205 Kansas ........: 65 95 135 95 50 (D) (D) 440 Nebraska ......: 130 115 105 130 130 (D) (D) 610 Texas .........: 160 110 105 50 15 (D) (D) 440 : Other States ..: 155 105 80 80 55 (D) (D) 475 : United States .: 550 465 465 405 (X) 205 80 2,170 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During September 2024 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 40 55 40 (D) (D) 180 Kansas ........: 65 95 155 125 65 (D) (D) 505 Nebraska ......: 60 60 110 185 200 (D) (D) 615 Texas .........: 160 110 90 55 10 (D) (D) 425 : Other States ..: 115 45 75 106 90 (D) (D) 431 : United States .: 425 330 470 526 (X) 305 100 2,156 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During October 2024 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 40 45 50 35 (D) (D) 210 Kansas ........: 75 105 145 105 55 (D) (D) 485 Nebraska ......: 135 115 105 135 135 (D) (D) 625 Texas .........: 170 115 115 55 15 (D) (D) 470 : Other States ..: 165 105 80 91 55 (D) (D) 496 : United States .: 585 480 490 436 (X) 215 80 2,286 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During October 2024 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : October 2023 :September 2024: : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 18 18 19 106 106 California .......: 46 60 51 111 85 Colorado .........: 160 145 145 91 100 Idaho ............: 37 46 48 130 104 Iowa .............: 82 71 84 102 118 Kansas ...........: 410 405 430 105 106 Minnesota ........: 14 10 16 114 160 Nebraska .........: 480 455 495 103 109 Oklahoma .........: 32 40 45 141 113 South Dakota .....: 33 36 39 118 108 Texas ............: 375 340 395 105 116 Washington .......: 35 31 34 97 110 : Other States .....: 41 41 44 107 107 : United States ....: 1,763 1,698 1,845 105 109 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During October 2024 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : October 2023 :September 2024: Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 6 6 6 100 100 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 2 2 2 100 100 Iowa .............: 1 1 1 100 100 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 10 10 10 100 100 Oklahoma .........: 1 2 1 100 50 South Dakota .....: 1 1 1 100 100 Texas ............: 15 15 15 100 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 1 1 1 100 100 : United States ....: 55 56 55 100 98 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 0.3 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 12.0 million head by more than 0.3 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.5 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 24,000 head, ranging from 0 to 80,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 0 times and has been below the latest estimate 15 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 ......................: 0.3 0.5 24 0 80 15 0 : Placements ...................: 0.5 0.9 6 0 24 7 9 : Marketings ...................: 0.1 0.2 1 0 6 8 6 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Kim DaPra - Milk Production and Milk Cows.. (202) 720-3278 Donnie Fike - Dairy Products .............. (202) 690-3347 Ralph Mondesir - Hogs and Pigs ............ (202) 720-3106 Suzanne Richards - Sheep and Goats ........ (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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