Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released January 25, 2013, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Down 6 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 January 1, 2013. The inventory was 6 percent below January 1, 2012. The inventory included 7.05 million steers and steer calves, down 3 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 63 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.07 million head, down 9 percent from 2012. Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.66 million, 1 percent below 2011. Net placements were 1.59 million head. During December, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 495,000, 600-699 pounds were 415,000, 700-799 pounds were 379,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 375,000. Marketings of fed cattle during December totaled 1.75 million, 2 percent below 2011. Other disappearance totaled 74,000 during December, 19 percent below 2011. Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: January 1, 2012 and 2013 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2012 : 2013 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed December 1 .....................: 12,055 11,348 94 Placed on feed during December .........: 1,673 1,664 99 Fed cattle marketed during December ....: 1,776 1,745 98 Other disappearance during December ....: 91 74 81 On feed January 1 ......................: 11,861 11,193 94 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: December 1, 2011 and 2012 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2011 : 2012 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed November 1 .....................: 11,889 11,254 95 Placed on feed during November .........: 2,037 1,943 95 Fed cattle marketed during November ....: 1,774 1,761 99 Other disappearance during November ....: 97 88 91 On feed December 1 .....................: 12,055 11,348 94 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: January 1, 2012 and 2013 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2012 : 2013 :previous year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head --- percent : Class on Feed January 1 : Steers and Steer Calves ...........: 7,281 7,047 97 Heifers and Heifer Calves .........: 4,496 4,070 91 Cows and Bulls ....................: 84 76 90 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2012 and 2013 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : January 1, 2013 : : :----------------------------------------- State : January 1, 2012 :December 1, 2012 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : -------------- 1,000 head ------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ........: 279 267 272 97 102 California .....: 510 490 480 94 98 Colorado .......: 1,150 1,020 1,000 87 98 Idaho ..........: 230 245 230 100 94 Iowa ...........: 620 610 620 100 102 Kansas .........: 2,250 2,190 2,110 94 96 Nebraska .......: 2,550 2,530 2,480 97 98 Oklahoma .......: 375 345 345 92 100 South Dakota ...: 260 230 230 88 100 Texas ..........: 2,940 2,700 2,720 93 101 Washington .....: 232 261 247 106 95 : Other States ...: 465 460 459 99 100 : United States ..: 11,861 11,348 11,193 94 99 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2011 and 2012 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During December 2012 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :December 2011 :November 2012 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 26 28 29 112 104 California .......: 61 65 50 82 77 Colorado .........: 160 150 140 88 93 Idaho ............: 36 40 26 72 65 Iowa .............: 77 123 82 106 67 Kansas ...........: 350 375 365 104 97 Nebraska .........: 380 465 390 103 84 Oklahoma .........: 45 56 52 116 93 South Dakota .....: 37 57 34 92 60 Texas ............: 400 465 415 104 89 Washington .......: 44 57 25 57 44 : Other States .....: 57 62 56 98 90 : United States ....: 1,673 1,943 1,664 99 86 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2011 and 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : During December :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : 1,000 head : Colorado .....: 50 35 35 35 30 35 45 35 160 140 Kansas .......: 75 70 100 100 105 105 70 90 350 365 Nebraska .....: 60 70 90 90 100 110 130 120 380 390 Texas ........: 225 200 75 100 55 65 45 50 400 415 : Other States .: 140 120 85 90 70 64 88 80 383 354 : United States : 550 495 385 415 360 379 378 375 1,673 1,664 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : During November :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Colorado .....: 55 40 40 40 30 30 50 40 175 150 Kansas .......: 85 80 100 90 120 115 70 90 375 375 Nebraska .....: 130 120 135 120 85 80 130 145 480 465 Texas ........: 270 230 100 105 60 80 40 50 470 465 : Other States .: 210 185 125 95 82 80 120 128 537 488 : United States : 750 655 500 450 377 385 410 453 2,037 1,943 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Number of Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2011 and 2012 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During December 2012 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :December 2011 :November 2012 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 36 25 23 64 92 California .......: 52 51 55 106 108 Colorado .........: 160 155 155 97 100 Idaho ............: 40 34 40 100 118 Iowa .............: 63 100 68 108 68 Kansas ...........: 445 390 425 96 109 Nebraska .........: 380 400 425 112 106 Oklahoma .........: 52 54 49 94 91 South Dakota .....: 37 45 33 89 73 Texas ............: 420 415 380 90 92 Washington .......: 45 43 38 84 88 : Other States .....: 46 49 54 117 110 : United States ....: 1,776 1,761 1,745 98 99 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2011 and 2012 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During December 2012 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :December 2011 :November 2012 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 4 4 5 125 125 Colorado .........: 10 5 5 50 100 Idaho ............: 1 1 1 100 100 Iowa .............: 4 3 4 100 133 Kansas ...........: 15 15 20 133 133 Nebraska .........: 10 15 15 150 100 Oklahoma .........: 3 2 3 100 150 South Dakota .....: 5 2 1 20 50 Texas ............: 30 20 15 50 75 Washington .......: 3 1 1 33 100 : Other States .....: 5 19 3 60 16 : United States ....: 91 88 74 81 84 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States: 2012 and 2013 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers and steer calves :Heifers and heifer calves : Cows and bulls :----------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Jan 1, : Oct 1, : Jan 1, : Jan 1, : Oct 1, : Jan 1, :Jan 1, :Oct 1, :Jan 1, : 2012 : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2012 : 2013 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ......: 276 268 264 3 4 8 0 0 0 California ...: 440 410 405 69 65 75 1 0 0 Colorado .....: 745 670 620 400 325 370 5 5 10 Idaho ........: 123 137 126 106 89 99 1 4 5 Iowa .........: 450 415 420 170 175 200 0 0 0 Kansas .......: 1,160 1,200 1,160 1,085 1,025 945 5 5 5 Nebraska .....: 1,530 1,400 1,530 980 900 930 40 30 20 Oklahoma .....: 215 225 220 160 110 125 0 0 0 South Dakota .: 131 108 113 101 75 91 28 12 26 Texas ........: 1,730 1,690 1,720 1,209 989 999 1 1 1 Washington ...: 150 137 147 80 74 96 2 2 4 : Other States .: 331 300 322 133 136 132 1 3 5 : United States : 7,281 6,960 7,047 4,496 3,967 4,070 84 62 76 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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 11 of the 16 States. Data collected from the remaining 5 States are used to establish the "Other States" estimates. These 5 States include Illinois, Minnesota, 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 each State office. 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 0.2 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 11.2 million head by more than 0.1 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.3 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 13,000 head, ranging from 0 to 47,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 13 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 ---- : Number on feed ...............: 0.2 0.3 13 0 47 2 13 : Placements ...................: 0.4 0.6 4 0 20 4 9 : Marketings ...................: 0.3 0.5 3 0 20 7 5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch ........... (202) 720-3570 Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ........... (202) 690-2424 Travis Averill - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ...... (202) 720-3040 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ...... (515) 284-4340 Doug Bounds - Hogs and Pigs .................. (202) 720-3106 Donnie Fike - Dairy Products ................. (202) 690-3236 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 Alissa Cowell-Mytar - Sheep and Goats ........ (202) 720-4751 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: http://www.nass.usda.gov Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e- mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit http://www.nass.usda.gov and in the "Follow NASS" box under "Receive reports by Email," click on "National" or "State" to select the reports you would like to receive. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@nass.usda.gov. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377- 8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.