Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released August 20, 2010, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Up 2 Percent Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 9.9 million head on August 1, 2010. The inventory was 2 percent above August 1, 2009. Placements in feedlots during July totaled 1.75 million, 6 percent below 2009. Net placements were 1.71 million head. During July, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 415,000, 600-699 pounds were 305,000, 700-799 pounds were 449,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 585,000. Marketings of fed cattle during July totaled 1.90 million, 2 percent below 2009. This is the lowest fed cattle marketings for the month of July since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 48,000 during July, 12 percent above 2009. Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: August 1, 2009 and 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2009 : 2010 :previous year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head --- percent : On feed July 1 ......................: 9,752 10,070 103 Placed on feed during July ..........: 1,863 1,754 94 Fed cattle marketed during July .....: 1,935 1,903 98 Other disappearance during July .....: 43 48 112 On feed August 1 ....................: 9,637 9,873 102 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: July 1, 2009 and 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2009 : 2010 :previous year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed June 1 ......................: 10,407 10,494 101 Placed on feed during June ..........: 1,391 1,628 117 Fed cattle marketed during June .....: 1,989 1,997 100 Other disappearance during June .....: 57 55 96 On feed July 1 ......................: 9,752 10,070 103 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2009 and 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : August 1, 2010 : : :----------------------------------------- State :August 1, 2009 : July 1, 2010 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ------------ ----- percent ---- : Arizona ........: 275 255 248 90 97 California .....: 450 430 435 97 101 Colorado .......: 850 920 890 105 97 Idaho ..........: 195 200 185 95 93 Iowa ...........: 510 570 560 110 98 Kansas .........: 1,920 2,010 2,040 106 101 Nebraska .......: 1,920 2,000 1,960 102 98 Oklahoma .......: 310 350 335 108 96 South Dakota ...: 190 215 200 105 93 Texas ..........: 2,510 2,590 2,520 100 97 Washington .....: 138 167 161 117 96 : Other States ...: 369 363 339 92 93 : United States ..: 9,637 10,070 9,873 102 98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2009 and 2010 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During July 2010 : During : During :------------------------------------------ State : July 2009 : June 2010 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ........: 25 21 21 84 100 California .....: 45 64 51 113 80 Colorado .......: 125 125 140 112 112 Idaho ..........: 33 34 31 94 91 Iowa ...........: 61 57 69 113 121 Kansas .........: 480 365 500 104 137 Nebraska .......: 410 310 370 90 119 Oklahoma .......: 69 66 49 71 74 South Dakota ...: 29 23 33 114 143 Texas ..........: 495 470 410 83 87 Washington .....: 33 32 33 100 103 : Other States ...: 58 61 47 81 77 : United States ..: 1,863 1,628 1,754 94 108 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2009 and 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : During July :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : 1,000 head : Colorado .....: 15 15 15 20 35 40 60 65 125 140 Kansas .......: 80 75 90 90 150 165 160 170 480 500 Nebraska .....: 60 50 80 70 95 90 175 160 410 370 Texas ........: 200 190 125 75 105 85 65 60 495 410 : Other States .: 100 85 55 50 73 69 125 130 353 334 : United States : 455 415 365 305 458 449 585 585 1,863 1,754 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : During June :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Colorado .....: 15 20 20 20 35 30 55 55 125 125 Kansas .......: 55 65 70 80 95 115 85 105 305 365 Nebraska .....: 50 60 55 50 55 70 110 130 270 310 Texas ........: 110 175 95 105 125 125 50 65 380 470 : Other States .: 85 120 50 45 61 68 115 125 311 358 : United States : 315 440 290 300 371 408 415 480 1,391 1,628 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Number of Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2009 and 2010 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During July 2010 : During : During :------------------------------------------ State : July 2009 : June 2010 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ........: 36 27 27 75 100 California .....: 53 56 43 81 77 Colorado .......: 180 170 165 92 97 Idaho ..........: 37 43 45 122 105 Iowa ...........: 70 75 77 110 103 Kansas .........: 470 475 460 98 97 Nebraska .......: 400 435 400 100 92 Oklahoma .......: 52 60 63 121 105 South Dakota ...: 43 36 47 109 131 Texas ..........: 470 510 470 100 92 Washington .....: 40 42 38 95 90 : Other States ...: 84 68 68 81 100 : United States ..: 1,935 1,997 1,903 98 95 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2009 and 2010 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During July 2010 : During : During :------------------------------------------ State : July 2009 : June 2010 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------- 1,000 head --------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ........: 1 2 1 100 50 California .....: 2 3 3 150 100 Colorado .......: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 Iowa ...........: 1 2 2 200 100 Kansas .........: 10 10 10 100 100 Nebraska .......: 10 15 10 100 67 Oklahoma .......: 2 1 1 50 100 South Dakota ...: 1 2 1 100 50 Texas ..........: 5 10 10 200 100 Washington .....: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States ...: 4 3 3 75 100 : United States ..: 43 55 48 112 87 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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 IL, MN, NM, OR, and WY. 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 0.05 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 9.9 million head by more than 0.05 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.10 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 3,000 head, ranging from 0 to 18,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 6 times and has been below the latest estimate 4 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 : : : : : : Years : : : : : :------------------------------- : : : Average :Smallest : Largest : Below latest : Above latest -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : percent percent ------- 1,000 ------- ----- number ---- : Number on feed ...............: 0.05 0.10 3 0 18 4 6 : Placements ...................: 0.17 0.30 2 0 9 4 5 : Marketings ...................: 0.29 0.50 2 0 21 7 4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Jim Collom - Dairy Products .................. (202) 690-3236 Joe Gaynor - Dairy Products Prices ........... (202) 690-2168 Jason Hardegree - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ..... (202) 720-3040 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ...... (515) 284-4340 Everett Olbert - Sheep and Goats ............. (202) 720-4751 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 Nick Streff - 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: 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 "Receive NASS Updates" box under "Receive reports by Email," click on "National" or "State" to select the reports you would like to receive. Printed reports may be purchased from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) by calling toll-free (800) 999-6779, or (703) 605-6220 if calling from outside the United States or Canada. Accepted methods of payment are Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order. 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, genetic information, political beliefs, 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, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.