Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released March 22, 2019, 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 11.8 million head on March 1, 2019. The inventory was 1 percent above March 1, 2018. Placements in feedlots during February totaled 1.86 million head, 2 percent above 2018. Net placements were 1.79 million head. During February, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 340,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 345,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 530,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 442,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 135,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 65,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during February totaled 1.68 million head, slightly above 2018. Other disappearance totaled 66,000 head during February, 16 percent above 2018. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: March 1, 2018 and 2019 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2018 : 2019 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed February 1 .....................: 11,630 11,688 100 Placed on feed during February .........: 1,817 1,857 102 Fed cattle marketed during February ....: 1,675 1,683 100 Other disappearance during February ....: 57 66 116 On feed March 1 ........................: 11,715 11,796 101 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: February 1, 2018 and 2019 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2018 : 2019 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed January 1 ......................: 11,489 11,690 102 Placed on feed during January ..........: 2,068 1,969 95 Fed cattle marketed during January .....: 1,858 1,910 103 Other disappearance during January .....: 69 61 88 On feed February 1 .....................: 11,630 11,688 100 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : March 1, 2019 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : March 1, 2018 :February 1, 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 285 303 311 109 103 California .......: 490 525 525 107 100 Colorado .........: 950 1,040 1,050 111 101 Idaho ............: 255 275 275 108 100 Iowa .............: 730 690 710 97 103 Kansas ...........: 2,350 2,250 2,300 98 102 Minnesota ........: 165 155 150 91 97 Nebraska .........: 2,690 2,580 2,600 97 101 Oklahoma .........: 315 315 310 98 98 South Dakota .....: 270 255 260 96 102 Texas ............: 2,680 2,750 2,770 103 101 Washington .......: 210 230 225 107 98 : Other States .....: 325 320 310 95 97 : United States ....: 11,715 11,688 11,796 101 101 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During February 2019 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :February 2018 : January 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 30 35 28 93 80 California .......: 59 63 55 93 87 Colorado .........: 165 205 185 112 90 Idaho ............: 34 33 38 112 115 Iowa .............: 118 111 133 113 120 Kansas ...........: 420 385 425 101 110 Minnesota ........: 16 15 14 88 93 Nebraska .........: 440 515 455 103 88 Oklahoma .........: 46 48 44 96 92 South Dakota .....: 46 48 42 91 88 Texas ............: 365 420 370 101 88 Washington .......: 36 40 26 72 65 : Other States .....: 42 51 42 100 82 : United States ....: 1,817 1,969 1,857 102 94 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During February 2018 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs : 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800-899 lbs : 900+ lbs1/ : 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 ......: 20 35 40 45 25 (D) (D) 165 Kansas ........: 45 70 155 105 45 (D) (D) 420 Nebraska ......: 30 75 140 125 70 (D) (D) 440 Texas .........: 125 80 90 55 15 (D) (D) 365 : Other States ..: 105 75 112 90 45 (D) (D) 427 : United States .: 325 335 537 420 (X) 150 50 1,817 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During January 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 ......: 45 50 50 40 20 (D) (D) 205 Kansas ........: 35 85 140 90 35 (D) (D) 385 Nebraska ......: 35 110 160 145 65 (D) (D) 515 Texas .........: 135 100 105 65 15 (D) (D) 420 : Other States ..: 130 100 99 80 35 (D) (D) 444 : United States .: 380 445 554 420 (X) 100 70 1,969 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During February 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 ......: 30 35 50 45 25 (D) (D) 185 Kansas ........: 45 75 150 115 40 (D) (D) 425 Nebraska ......: 30 80 145 125 75 (D) (D) 455 Texas .........: 130 75 85 60 20 (D) (D) 370 : Other States ..: 105 80 100 97 40 (D) (D) 422 : United States .: 340 345 530 442 (X) 135 65 1,857 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During February 2019 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :February 2018 : January 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 24 26 19 79 73 California .......: 51 70 51 100 73 Colorado .........: 170 170 170 100 100 Idaho ............: 36 36 35 97 97 Iowa .............: 106 109 109 103 100 Kansas ...........: 380 455 365 96 80 Minnesota ........: 20 14 18 90 129 Nebraska .........: 410 480 415 101 86 Oklahoma .........: 50 47 48 96 102 South Dakota .....: 35 36 34 97 94 Texas ............: 320 385 340 106 88 Washington .......: 30 34 30 100 88 : Other States .....: 43 48 49 114 102 : United States ....: 1,675 1,910 1,683 100 88 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During February 2019 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :February 2018 : January 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 3 3 4 133 133 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 3 2 3 100 150 Iowa .............: 2 2 4 200 200 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 10 15 20 200 133 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 1 2 3 300 150 Texas ............: 15 15 10 67 67 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 4 3 3 75 100 : United States ....: 57 61 66 116 108 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 11.8 million head by more than 0.0 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 1,000 head, ranging from 0 to 15,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 0 times and has been below the latest estimate 3 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 ...............: 0.0 0.1 1 0 15 3 0 : Placements ...................: 0.2 0.3 1 0 15 3 0 : Marketings ...................: 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Travis Averill, Chief, Livestock Branch ......... (202) 720-3570 Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ........... (202) 690-2424 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ...... (202) 690-8632 Holly Brenize - Sheep and Goats .............. (202) 720-0585 Donnie Fike - Dairy Products ................. (202) 720-4448 Heidi Gleich - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ........ (202) 720-3040 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 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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