Mt An 2-1 (4-09) Cattle on Feed National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released April 17, 2009, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Cattle on Feed" call Jason Hardegree at (202) 720-3040, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. U.S. Cattle on Feed Down 5 Percent Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.2 million head on April 1, 2009. The inventory was 5 percent below April 1, 2008. The inventory included 6.98 million steers and steer calves, down 5 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 63 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.12 million head, down 4 percent from 2008. Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.80 million, 4 percent above 2008. Net placements were 1.75 million head. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 300,000, 600-699 pounds were 340,000, 700-799 pounds were 592,000 and 800 pounds and greater were 570,000. Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.83 million, 1 percent below 2008. Other disappearance totaled 50,000 during March, 21 percent below 2008. This is the lowest other disappearance for the month of March since the series began in 1996. Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, United States, April 1, 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : 2009 as % Item :---------------------------------------- : 2008 : 2009 : of 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head ---- Percent : On Feed Mar 1 : 11,853 11,228 95 Placed on Feed During Mar : 1,736 1,802 104 Fed Cattle Marketed During Mar : 1,842 1,828 99 Other Disappearance During Mar : 63 50 79 On Feed Apr 1 : 11,684 11,152 95 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, United States, March 1, 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : 2009 as % Item :---------------------------------------- : 2008 : 2009 : of 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head ---- Percent : On Feed Feb 1 : 11,966 11,288 94 Placed on Feed During Feb : 1,723 1,678 97 Fed Cattle Marketed During Feb : 1,776 1,682 95 Other Disappearance During Feb : 60 56 93 On Feed Mar 1 : 11,853 11,228 95 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed by Class, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, United States, April 1, 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number :2009 as % of Item :---------------------------------------- : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head --- Percent : Class on Feed Apr 1 : Steers and Steer Calves : 7,347 6,979 95 Heifers and Heifer Calves : 4,276 4,122 96 Cows and Bulls : 61 51 84 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Apr 1, 2009 : : :------------------------------------------ State : Apr 1, 2008 : Mar 1, 2009 : : as % of : as % of : : : Number : 2008 : Mar -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 Head ------------ ---- Percent ---- : AZ : 374 342 330 88 96 CA : 530 460 445 84 97 CO : 1,020 1,040 1,040 102 100 ID : 230 215 210 91 98 IA : 550 520 520 95 100 KS : 2,420 2,290 2,280 94 100 NE : 2,450 2,330 2,320 95 100 NM : 158 148 137 87 93 OK : 340 330 330 97 100 SD : 225 225 225 100 100 TX : 2,880 2,820 2,810 98 100 WA : 152 153 160 105 105 : Oth Sts: 355 355 345 97 97 : US : 11,684 11,228 11,152 95 99 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Number Placed on Feed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During Mar 2009 : During : During :------------------------------------------ State : Mar 2008 : Feb 2009 : : as % of : as % of : : : Number : 2008 : Feb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 Head ----------- ---- Percent ---- : AZ : 30 26 24 80 92 CA : 55 36 48 87 133 CO : 135 190 165 122 87 ID : 37 38 26 70 68 IA : 59 62 71 120 115 KS : 440 420 395 90 94 NE : 360 310 360 100 116 NM : 10 9 10 100 111 OK : 50 51 68 136 133 SD : 32 43 46 144 107 TX : 450 430 510 113 119 WA : 30 28 35 117 125 : Oth Sts: 48 35 44 92 126 : US : 1,736 1,678 1,802 104 107 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Number Placed on Feed by Weight Group, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States, 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During March :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Under 600 : 600-699 : 700-799 : 800 Plus : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : CO : 20 20 25 25 45 55 45 65 135 165 KS : 55 45 95 85 150 135 140 130 440 395 NE : 50 40 50 60 110 110 150 150 360 360 TX : 100 90 105 110 165 200 80 110 450 510 : Oth Sts : 110 105 55 60 91 92 95 115 351 372 : US : 335 300 330 340 561 592 510 570 1,736 1,802 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : During February :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : Under 600 : 600-699 : 700-799 : 800 Plus : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : CO : 10 20 35 45 50 55 60 70 155 190 KS : 40 50 85 95 160 165 105 110 390 420 NE : 40 50 70 60 110 100 130 100 350 310 TX : 120 100 125 115 125 140 70 75 440 430 : Oth Sts : 120 100 70 70 88 78 110 80 388 328 : US : 330 320 385 385 533 538 475 435 1,723 1,678 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Number Marketed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During Mar 2009 : During : During :------------------------------------------ State : Mar 2008 : Feb 2009 : : as % of : as % of : : : Number : 2008 : Feb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 Head ----------- ---- Percent ---- : AZ : 31 32 35 113 109 CA : 65 54 60 92 111 CO : 160 165 155 97 94 ID : 39 37 30 77 81 IA : 68 61 70 103 115 KS : 415 375 395 95 105 NE : 390 370 365 94 99 NM : 11 18 19 173 106 OK : 58 49 66 114 135 SD : 37 39 44 119 113 TX : 480 410 510 106 124 WA : 28 25 27 96 108 : Oth Sts: 60 47 52 87 111 : US : 1,842 1,682 1,828 99 109 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During Mar 2009 : During : During :------------------------------------------ State : Mar 2008 : Feb 2009 : : as % of : as % of : : : Number : 2008 : Feb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 Head ---------- ---- Percent ---- : AZ : 2 1 1 50 100 CA : 5 2 3 60 150 CO : 5 5 10 200 200 ID : 3 1 1 33 100 IA : 1 1 1 100 100 KS : 15 15 10 67 67 NE : 10 10 5 50 50 NM : 1 1 2 200 200 OK : 2 2 2 100 100 SD : 5 4 2 40 50 TX : 10 10 10 100 100 WA : 1 1 1 100 100 : Oth Sts: 3 3 2 67 67 : US : 63 56 50 79 89 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed by Class, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Quarter, State, and United States, 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers & Steer Calves :Heifers & Heifer Calves: Cows and Bulls :----------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Apr 1, :Jan 1, :Apr 1, :Apr 1, :Jan 1, :Apr 1, :Apr 1, :Jan 1, :Apr 1, : 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : AZ : 371 357 329 3 1 1 0 0 0 CA : 485 440 400 45 50 45 0 0 0 CO : 600 610 670 415 385 365 5 5 5 ID : 132 118 103 96 97 97 2 5 10 IA : 380 345 375 170 155 145 0 0 0 KS : 1,270 1,210 1,190 1,130 1,045 1,085 20 15 5 NE : 1,550 1,460 1,400 890 900 910 10 10 10 NM : 94 89 72 64 75 65 0 0 0 OK : 220 215 190 120 120 140 0 0 0 SD : 121 107 125 86 92 85 18 21 15 TX : 1,790 1,770 1,780 1,087 1,018 1,028 3 2 2 WA : 74 95 90 77 61 69 1 1 1 : Oth Sts : 260 255 255 93 101 87 2 4 3 : US : 7,347 7,071 6,979 4,276 4,100 4,122 61 63 51 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 U.S. 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 17 States are surveyed. The 17 States account for 98 percent of the cattle on feed in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head. 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 setting 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 following table. 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 less than 0.1 percent (0.04). 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 0.04 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.1 percent. The following table also 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 18,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the final estimate 1 time and has been below the final estimate 4 times. This does not imply that the initial estimate is likely to understate or overstate final inventory. Reliability of Monthly Cattle on Feed Estimates 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : 90% : Difference Between : : : Confidence : First and Final : Number of : Root : Level : Estimates : Months Item : Mean :--------------------------------------------------------- : Square : : : : : : First : First : Error :Percent: (000) :Average:Smallest:Largest: Above : Below : : : Head : : : : Final : Final -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent -------- 1,000 Head -------- Number : Number on : Feed : 0.0 0.1 11.2 1 0 18 1 4 : Placements : 0.2 0.3 5.4 2 0 10 4 5 : Marketings : 0.2 0.3 5.5 2 0 10 5 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Based on data for the past 24 months. Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch............................(202) 720-3570 Livestock Section Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section............................(202) 690-2424 Jim Collom - Dairy Products..............................(202) 690-3236 Joe Gaynor - Dairy Products Prices.......................(202) 690-2168 Jason Hardegree - Cattle, Cattle on Feed.................(202) 720-3040 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter..................(515) 284-4340 Everett Olbert - Sheep and Goats.........................(202) 720-4751 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows..............(202) 720-3278 Nick Streff - Hogs and Pigs..............................(202) 720-3106 ACCESS TO REPORTS!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are available free of charge. For free access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: www.nass.usda.gov. 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