Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released October 25, 2024, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Down Slightly Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.6 million head on October 1, 2024. The inventory was slightly below October 1, 2023. The inventory included 7.00 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 4.60 million head, down 1 percent from 2023. Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.16 million head, 2 percent below 2023. Net placements were 2.10 million head. During September, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 430,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 330,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 465,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 526,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 305,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 100,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.70 million head, 2 percent above 2023. Other disappearance totaled 56,000 head during September, 2 percent below 2023. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: October 1, 2023 and 2024 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2023 : 2024 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed September 1 ....................: 11,127 11,198 101 Placed on feed during September ........: 2,198 2,156 98 Fed cattle marketed during September ...: 1,664 1,698 102 Other disappearance during September ...: 57 56 98 On feed October 1 ......................: 11,604 11,600 100 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: September 1, 2023 and 2024 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2023 : 2024 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed August 1 .......................: 11,064 11,095 100 Placed on feed during August ...........: 2,003 1,976 99 Fed cattle marketed during August ......: 1,885 1,819 96 Other disappearance during August ......: 55 54 98 On feed September 1 ....................: 11,127 11,198 101 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: October 1, 2023 and 2024 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : : :----------------------------- : 2023 : 2024 :previous year : inventory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head --- percent percent : Class on feed October 1 ................: Steers and steer calves ..............: 6,964 7,000 101 60 Heifers and heifer calves ............: 4,640 4,600 99 40 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : October 1, 2024 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : October 1, 2023 :September 1, 2024: : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 254 233 230 91 99 California .......: 505 520 515 102 99 Colorado .........: 990 970 1,000 101 103 Idaho ............: 300 315 330 110 105 Iowa .............: 650 660 660 102 100 Kansas ...........: 2,500 2,280 2,370 95 104 Minnesota ........: 95 95 100 105 105 Nebraska .........: 2,420 2,320 2,470 102 106 Oklahoma .........: 290 330 345 119 105 South Dakota .....: 185 185 195 105 105 Texas ............: 2,850 2,750 2,820 99 103 Washington .......: 255 245 255 100 104 : Other States .....: 310 295 310 100 105 : United States ....: 11,604 11,198 11,600 100 104 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During September 2024 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :September 2023: August 2024 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 25 15 16 64 107 California .......: 43 61 61 142 100 Colorado .........: 195 155 185 95 119 Idaho ............: 60 50 63 105 126 Iowa .............: 78 75 72 92 96 Kansas ...........: 505 535 505 100 94 Minnesota ........: 14 10 16 114 160 Nebraska .........: 610 495 610 100 123 Oklahoma .........: 56 50 57 102 114 South Dakota .....: 49 30 47 96 157 Texas ............: 465 415 425 91 102 Washington .......: 43 36 42 98 117 : Other States .....: 55 49 57 104 116 : United States ....: 2,198 1,976 2,156 98 109 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During September 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 40 60 40 (D) (D) 195 Kansas ........: 65 100 160 120 60 (D) (D) 505 Nebraska ......: 65 60 110 180 195 (D) (D) 610 Texas .........: 180 125 95 55 10 (D) (D) 465 : Other States ..: 120 45 75 103 80 (D) (D) 423 : United States .: 460 355 480 518 (X) 290 95 2,198 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During August 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 ......: 25 30 30 40 30 (D) (D) 155 Kansas ........: 65 95 160 145 70 (D) (D) 535 Nebraska ......: 40 45 95 150 165 (D) (D) 495 Texas .........: 175 95 80 50 15 (D) (D) 415 : Other States ..: 90 40 70 101 75 (D) (D) 376 : United States .: 395 305 435 486 (X) 265 90 1,976 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During September 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 20 40 55 40 (D) (D) 185 Kansas ........: 65 95 155 125 65 (D) (D) 505 Nebraska ......: 60 60 105 185 200 (D) (D) 610 Texas .........: 160 110 90 55 10 (D) (D) 425 : Other States ..: 115 45 75 106 90 (D) (D) 431 : United States .: 430 330 465 526 (X) 305 100 2,156 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 September 2024 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :September 2023: August 2024 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 17 21 18 106 86 California .......: 46 55 60 130 109 Colorado .........: 150 140 150 100 107 Idaho ............: 43 44 46 107 105 Iowa .............: 67 64 71 106 111 Kansas ...........: 405 455 405 100 89 Minnesota ........: 13 14 10 77 71 Nebraska .........: 450 485 450 100 93 Oklahoma .........: 29 44 40 138 91 South Dakota .....: 33 34 36 109 106 Texas ............: 340 390 340 100 87 Washington .......: 32 30 31 97 103 : Other States .....: 39 43 41 105 95 : United States ....: 1,664 1,819 1,698 102 93 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During September 2024 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :September 2023: August 2024 : Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 7 6 6 86 100 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 2 1 2 100 200 Iowa .............: 1 1 1 100 100 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 10 10 10 100 100 Oklahoma .........: 2 1 2 100 200 South Dakota .....: 1 1 1 100 100 Texas ............: 15 15 15 100 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 1 1 1 100 100 : United States ....: 57 54 56 98 104 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 : Oct 1, : Jul 1, : Oct 1, : Oct 1, : Jul 1, : Oct 1, : 2023 : 2024 : 2024 : 2023 : 2024 : 2024 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ............: 244 239 220 10 10 10 California .........: 405 435 420 100 95 95 Colorado ...........: 530 500 525 460 470 475 Idaho ..............: 165 180 175 135 150 155 Iowa ...............: 480 510 510 170 140 150 Kansas .............: 1,350 1,220 1,340 1,150 1,000 1,030 Minnesota ..........: 80 90 85 15 15 15 Nebraska ...........: 1,490 1,510 1,530 930 880 940 Oklahoma ...........: 155 180 190 135 145 155 South Dakota .......: 105 125 110 80 80 85 Texas ..............: 1,630 1,510 1,560 1,220 1,280 1,260 Washington .........: 135 130 135 120 110 120 : Other States .......: 195 195 200 115 105 110 : United States ......: 6,964 6,824 7,000 4,640 4,480 4,600 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 0.3 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 11.6 million head by more than 0.3 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.6 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 28,000 head, ranging from 0 to 110,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 0 times and has been below the latest estimate 16 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 ......................: 0.3 0.6 28 0 110 16 0 : Placements ...................: 0.5 0.9 6 0 24 8 9 : Marketings ...................: 0.1 0.2 1 0 6 9 6 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.. (202) 720-3278 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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