Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released November 20, 2020, 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 12.0 million head on November 1, 2020. The inventory was 1 percent above November 1, 2019. This is the highest November 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. Placements in feedlots during October totaled 2.19 million head, 11 percent below 2019. Net placements were 2.13 million head. During October, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 570,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 495,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 465,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 387,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 185,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 90,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during October totaled 1.87 million head, slightly below 2019. Other disappearance totaled 63,000 head during October, 7 percent above 2019. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: November 1, 2019 and 2020 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2019 : 2020 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed October 1 ......................: 11,288 11,717 104 Placed on feed during October ..........: 2,462 2,192 89 Fed cattle marketed during October .....: 1,875 1,873 100 Other disappearance during October .....: 59 63 107 On feed November 1 .....................: 11,816 11,973 101 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: October 1, 2019 and 2020 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2019 : 2020 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed September 1 ....................: 10,982 11,394 104 Placed on feed during September ........: 2,103 2,227 106 Fed cattle marketed during September ...: 1,738 1,846 106 Other disappearance during September ...: 59 58 98 On feed October 1 ......................: 11,288 11,717 104 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2019 and 2020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : November 1, 2020 : : :-------------------------------------------- State :November 1, 2019 : October 1, 2020 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 256 257 258 101 100 California .......: 540 545 555 103 102 Colorado .........: 1,070 1,110 1,120 105 101 Idaho ............: 290 270 280 97 104 Iowa .............: 660 610 620 94 102 Kansas ...........: 2,420 2,540 2,520 104 99 Minnesota ........: 130 105 125 96 119 Nebraska .........: 2,450 2,410 2,500 102 104 Oklahoma .........: 325 315 320 98 102 South Dakota .....: 240 190 225 94 118 Texas ............: 2,870 2,870 2,910 101 101 Washington .......: 235 220 245 104 111 : Other States .....: 330 275 295 89 107 : United States ....: 11,816 11,717 11,973 101 102 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2019 and 2020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During October 2020 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : October 2019 :September 2020: : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 25 16 27 108 169 California .......: 75 68 66 88 97 Colorado .........: 240 245 175 73 71 Idaho ............: 63 54 53 84 98 Iowa .............: 114 72 105 92 146 Kansas ...........: 450 490 430 96 88 Minnesota ........: 39 19 35 90 184 Nebraska .........: 670 600 560 84 93 Oklahoma .........: 61 62 51 84 82 South Dakota .....: 77 45 84 109 187 Texas ............: 530 450 480 91 107 Washington .......: 51 45 61 120 136 : Other States .....: 67 61 65 97 107 : United States ....: 2,462 2,227 2,192 89 98 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2019 and 2020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During October 2019 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ......: 50 45 40 55 50 (D) (D) 240 Kansas ........: 65 100 140 95 50 (D) (D) 450 Nebraska ......: 140 130 110 140 150 (D) (D) 670 Texas .........: 170 135 140 65 20 (D) (D) 530 : Other States ..: 175 130 87 105 75 (D) (D) 572 : United States .: 600 540 517 460 (X) 230 115 2,462 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During September 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 ......: 30 30 55 65 65 (D) (D) 245 Kansas ........: 65 95 155 115 60 (D) (D) 490 Nebraska ......: 55 60 115 180 190 (D) (D) 600 Texas .........: 175 125 95 45 10 (D) (D) 450 : Other States ..: 120 50 80 112 80 (D) (D) 442 : United States .: 445 360 500 517 (X) 300 105 2,227 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During October 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 ......: 35 30 35 40 35 (D) (D) 175 Kansas ........: 65 90 140 90 45 (D) (D) 430 Nebraska ......: 120 125 90 110 115 (D) (D) 560 Texas .........: 170 125 115 55 15 (D) (D) 480 : Other States ..: 180 125 85 92 65 (D) (D) 547 : United States .: 570 495 465 387 (X) 185 90 2,192 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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: 2019 and 2020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During October 2020 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : October 2019 :September 2020: : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 21 22 25 119 114 California .......: 54 49 49 91 100 Colorado .........: 155 170 160 103 94 Idaho ............: 45 38 41 91 108 Iowa .............: 92 70 92 100 131 Kansas ...........: 400 410 440 110 107 Minnesota ........: 13 23 14 108 61 Nebraska .........: 480 460 460 96 100 Oklahoma .........: 50 56 45 90 80 South Dakota .....: 45 44 48 107 109 Texas ............: 435 415 420 97 101 Washington .......: 40 44 35 88 80 : Other States .....: 45 45 44 98 98 : United States ....: 1,875 1,846 1,873 100 101 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2019 and 2020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During October 2020 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : October 2019 :September 2020: Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 6 9 7 117 78 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 3 1 2 67 200 Iowa .............: 2 2 3 150 150 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 .....: 2 1 1 50 100 Texas ............: 15 15 20 133 133 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 2 1 1 50 100 : United States ....: 59 58 63 107 109 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 0.1 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 0.1 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 4,000 head, ranging from 0 to 15,000 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 ---- : On feed ......................: 0.1 0.1 4 0 15 2 8 : Placements ...................: 0.3 0.5 3 0 15 6 3 : Marketings ...................: 0.2 0.4 1 0 15 1 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 Holly Brenize - Sheep and Goats .............. (202) 720-0585 Ryan Cowen - Cattle, Cattle on Feed .......... (202) 720-3040 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 Suzanne Richards - Dairy Products ............ (202) 720-4448 Seth Riggins - Hogs and Pigs ................. (202) 720-3106 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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