Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released July 19, 2024, 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 11.3 million head on July 1, 2024. The inventory was 1 percent above July 1, 2023. The inventory included 6.82 million steers and steer calves, up 1 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 60 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.48 million head, up slightly from 2023. Placements in feedlots during June totaled 1.56 million head, 7 percent below 2023. Net placements were 1.51 million head. During June, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 365,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 255,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 350,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 349,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 165,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 80,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during June totaled 1.79 million head, 9 percent below 2023. Marketings were the second lowest for June since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 57,000 head during June, 17 percent below 2023. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: July 1, 2023 and 2024 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2023 : 2024 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed June 1 .........................: 11,590 11,583 100 Placed on feed during June .............: 1,679 1,564 93 Fed cattle marketed during June ........: 1,957 1,786 91 Other disappearance during June ........: 69 57 83 On feed July 1 .........................: 11,243 11,304 101 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: June 1, 2023 and 2024 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2023 : 2024 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed May 1 ..........................: 11,654 11,554 99 Placed on feed during May ..............: 1,962 2,046 104 Fed cattle marketed during May .........: 1,952 1,955 100 Other disappearance during May .........: 74 62 84 On feed June 1 .........................: 11,590 11,583 100 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: July 1, 2023 and 2024 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : : :----------------------------- : 2023 : 2024 :previous year : inventory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head --- percent percent : Class on feed July 1 ...................: Steers and steer calves ..............: 6,768 6,824 101 60 Heifers and heifer calves ............: 4,475 4,480 100 40 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : July 1, 2024 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : July 1, 2023 : June 1, 2024 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 253 253 249 98 98 California .......: 540 525 530 98 101 Colorado .........: 990 960 970 98 101 Idaho ............: 295 335 330 112 99 Iowa .............: 650 660 650 100 98 Kansas ...........: 2,400 2,320 2,220 93 96 Minnesota ........: 100 105 105 105 100 Nebraska .........: 2,330 2,480 2,390 103 96 Oklahoma .........: 250 330 325 130 98 South Dakota .....: 180 220 205 114 93 Texas ............: 2,720 2,840 2,790 103 98 Washington .......: 240 245 240 100 98 : Other States .....: 295 310 300 102 97 : United States ....: 11,243 11,583 11,304 101 98 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2024 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2023 : May 2024 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 26 25 19 73 76 California .......: 67 60 65 97 108 Colorado .........: 135 170 150 111 88 Idaho ............: 33 43 34 103 79 Iowa .............: 60 73 47 78 64 Kansas ...........: 400 485 310 78 64 Minnesota ........: 13 9 10 77 111 Nebraska .........: 425 495 415 98 84 Oklahoma .........: 57 74 49 86 66 South Dakota .....: 22 24 24 109 100 Texas ............: 370 505 365 99 72 Washington .......: 36 39 39 108 100 : Other States .....: 35 44 37 106 84 : United States ....: 1,679 2,046 1,564 93 76 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During June 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 ......: 30 25 30 30 20 (D) (D) 135 Kansas ........: 65 75 120 90 50 (D) (D) 400 Nebraska ......: 35 50 95 125 120 (D) (D) 425 Texas .........: 155 75 75 45 20 (D) (D) 370 : Other States ..: 105 50 60 79 55 (D) (D) 349 : United States .: 390 275 380 369 (X) 185 80 1,679 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During May 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 ......: 30 25 40 45 30 (D) (D) 170 Kansas ........: 55 75 145 130 80 (D) (D) 485 Nebraska ......: 40 50 110 165 130 (D) (D) 495 Texas .........: 160 105 120 90 30 (D) (D) 505 : Other States ..: 110 60 70 101 50 (D) (D) 391 : United States .: 395 315 485 531 (X) 230 90 2,046 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During June 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 ......: 35 25 35 35 20 (D) (D) 150 Kansas ........: 50 60 90 70 40 (D) (D) 310 Nebraska ......: 40 50 95 120 110 (D) (D) 415 Texas .........: 150 75 75 45 20 (D) (D) 365 : Other States ..: 90 45 55 79 55 (D) (D) 324 : United States .: 365 255 350 349 (X) 165 80 1,564 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 June 2024 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2023 : May 2024 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 27 25 22 81 88 California .......: 64 54 54 84 100 Colorado .........: 140 155 135 96 87 Idaho ............: 42 47 38 90 81 Iowa .............: 58 71 56 97 79 Kansas ...........: 460 455 400 87 88 Minnesota ........: 12 13 9 75 69 Nebraska .........: 525 510 495 94 97 Oklahoma .........: 56 63 53 95 84 South Dakota .....: 40 47 36 90 77 Texas ............: 445 420 400 90 95 Washington .......: 40 38 43 108 113 : Other States .....: 48 57 45 94 79 : United States ....: 1,957 1,955 1,786 91 91 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2024 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2023 : May 2024 : Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 8 6 6 75 100 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 1 1 1 100 100 Iowa .............: 2 2 1 50 50 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 20 15 10 50 67 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 2 2 3 150 150 Texas ............: 15 15 15 100 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 2 2 2 100 100 : United States ....: 69 62 57 83 92 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers and steer calves : Heifers and heifer calves :----------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Jul 1, : Apr 1, : Jul 1, : Jul 1, : Apr 1, : Jul 1, : 2023 : 2024 : 2024 : 2023 : 2024 : 2024 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ............: 243 246 239 10 10 10 California .........: 450 435 435 90 95 95 Colorado ...........: 550 530 500 440 460 470 Idaho ..............: 160 195 180 135 150 150 Iowa ...............: 495 510 510 155 150 140 Kansas .............: 1,270 1,340 1,220 1,130 1,060 1,000 Minnesota ..........: 85 90 90 15 15 15 Nebraska ...........: 1,450 1,660 1,510 880 880 880 Oklahoma ...........: 135 185 180 115 145 145 South Dakota .......: 110 155 125 70 95 80 Texas ..............: 1,500 1,570 1,510 1,220 1,270 1,280 Washington .........: 125 135 130 115 115 110 : Other States .......: 195 215 195 100 115 105 : United States ......: 6,768 7,266 6,824 4,475 4,560 4,480 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 0.5 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 11.3 million head by more than 0.5 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.9 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 43,000 head, ranging from 0 to 115,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 0 times and has been below the latest estimate 19 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 ......................: 0.5 0.9 43 0 115 19 0 : Placements ...................: 0.5 0.9 6 0 24 8 11 : Marketings ...................: 0.1 0.2 1 0 6 10 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 Kim DaPra - Milk Production and Milk Cows.. (512) 501-3266 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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