Mt An 2-1 (4-10) Cattle on Feed Washington, D.C. Released April 23, 2010, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Cattle on Feed" call Jason Hardegree at (202) 720-3040, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. U.S. Cattle on Feed Down 4 Percent Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.8 million head on April 1, 2010. The inventory was 4 percent below April 1, 2009. The inventory included 6.71 million steers and steer calves, down 4 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 62 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.02 million head, down 3 percent from 2009. Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.86 million, 3 percent above 2009. Net placements were 1.80 million head. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 395,000, 600-699 pounds were 375,000, 700-799 pounds were 602,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 485,000. Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.90 million, 4 percent above 2009. Other disappearance totaled 60,000 during March, 20 percent above 2009. This is the second lowest other disappearance for the month of March since the series began in 1996. Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, United States, April 1, 2009-2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2009 : 2010 :Previous Year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- 1,000 Head ---- Percent : On Feed Mar 1 : 11,228 *10,874 97 Placed on Feed During Mar : 1,808 1,857 103 Fed Cattle Marketed During Mar : 1,824 1,902 104 Other Disappearance During Mar : 50 60 120 On Feed Apr 1 : 11,162 10,769 96 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Revised. Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, United States, March 1, 2009-2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2009 : 2010 :Previous Year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----- 1,000 Head ---- Percent : On Feed Feb 1 : 11,288 10,984 97 Placed on Feed During Feb : 1,678 *1,674 100 Fed Cattle Marketed During Feb : 1,682 *1,716 102 Other Disappearance During Feb : 56 68 121 On Feed Mar 1 : 11,228 *10,874 97 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Revised. Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed by Class, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, United States, April 1, 2009-2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2009 : 2010 :Previous Year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head --- Percent : Class on Feed Apr 1 : Steers and Steer Calves : 6,984 6,707 96 Heifers and Heifer Calves : 4,127 4,021 97 Cows and Bulls : 51 41 80 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States 2009-2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Apr 1, 2010 : : :------------------------------------------ State : Apr 1, 2009 : Mar 1, 2010 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :Previous Year :Previous Month -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ----------- 1,000 Head ----------- ----- Percent ---- : AZ : 330 286 278 84 97 CA : 445 450 440 99 98 CO : 1,040 940 930 89 99 ID : 210 195 205 98 105 IA : 530 *610 600 113 98 KS : 2,280 2,220 2,240 98 101 NE : 2,320 2,350 2,290 99 97 NM : 137 D D D D OK : 330 355 340 103 96 SD : 225 240 235 104 98 TX : 2,810 2,650 2,640 94 100 WA : 160 168 171 107 102 : Oth Sts1/: 345 410 400 X 98 : US : 11,162 *10,874 10,769 96 99 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Revised. (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. (X) Comparison to 2009 is not applicable. 1/ Beginning in July 2009, New Mexico is included in the Other State total. Cattle on Feed: Number Placed on Feed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States 2009-2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During Mar 2010 : During : During :------------------------------------------ State : Mar 2009 : Feb 2010 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :Previous Year :Previous Month -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 Head ---------- ----- Percent ---- : AZ : 24 21 20 83 95 CA : 48 51 47 98 92 CO : 165 160 185 112 116 ID : 26 36 34 131 94 IA : 77 *78 77 100 99 KS : 395 405 440 111 109 NE : 360 365 380 106 104 NM : 10 D D D D OK : 68 54 64 94 119 SD : 46 52 42 91 81 TX : 510 365 490 96 134 WA : 35 30 32 91 107 : Oth Sts1/: 44 57 46 X 81 : US : 1,808 *1,674 1,857 103 111 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Revised. (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. (X) Comparison to 2009 is not applicable. 1/ Beginning in July 2009, New Mexico is included in the Other State total. Cattle on Feed: Number Placed on Feed by Weight Group, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States 2009-2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During March :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Under 600 : 600-699 : 700-799 : 800 Plus : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : CO : 20 30 25 40 55 70 65 45 165 185 KS : 45 70 85 90 135 165 130 115 395 440 NE : 40 60 60 70 110 120 150 130 360 380 TX : 90 145 110 125 200 150 110 70 510 490 : Oth Sts : 110 90 60 50 93 97 115 125 378 362 : US : 305 395 340 375 593 602 570 485 1,808 1,857 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : During February :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : Under 600 : 600-699 : 700-799 : 800 Plus : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : CO : 20 15 45 35 55 50 70 60 190 160 KS : 50 50 95 90 165 150 110 115 420 405 NE : 50 55 60 80 100 110 100 120 310 365 TX : 100 105 115 95 140 110 75 55 430 365 : Oth Sts : 100 95 70 *70 78 *99 80 *115 328 *379 : US : 320 320 385 *370 538 *519 435 *465 1,678 *1,674 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Revised. Cattle on Feed: Number Marketed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States 2009-2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During Mar 2010 : During : During :------------------------------------------ State : Mar 2009 : Feb 2010 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :Previous Year :Previous Month -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 Head ---------- ----- Percent ---- : AZ : 35 24 27 77 113 CA : 60 48 51 85 106 CO : 155 175 190 123 109 ID : 30 40 23 77 58 IA : 66 *65 84 127 129 KS : 395 415 410 104 99 NE : 365 370 430 118 116 NM : 19 D D D D OK : 66 62 77 117 124 SD : 44 44 45 102 102 TX : 510 400 485 95 121 WA : 27 27 28 104 104 : Oth Sts1/: 52 46 52 X 113 : US : 1,824 *1,716 1,902 104 111 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Revised. (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. (X) Comparison to 2009 is not applicable. 1/ Beginning in July 2009, New Mexico is included in the Other State total. Cattle on Feed: Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States 2009-2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During Mar 2010 : During : During :------------------------------------------ State : Mar 2009 : Feb 2010 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :Previous Year :Previous Month -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------- 1,000 Head --------- ----- Percent ---- : AZ : 1 1 1 100 100 CA : 3 8 6 200 75 CO : 10 5 5 50 100 ID : 1 1 1 100 100 IA : 1 3 3 300 100 KS : 10 10 10 100 100 NE : 5 15 10 200 67 NM : 2 D D D D OK : 2 2 2 100 100 SD : 2 3 2 100 67 TX : 10 15 15 150 100 WA : 1 1 1 100 100 : Oth Sts1/: 2 4 4 X 100 : US : 50 68 60 120 88 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. (X) Comparison to 2009 is not applicable. 1/ Beginning in July 2009, New Mexico is included in the Other State total. Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed by Class, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Quarter, State, and United States 2009-2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers & Steer Calves :Heifers & Heifer Calves: Cows and Bulls :---------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Apr 1, :Jan 1, :Apr 1, :Apr 1, :Jan 1, :Apr 1, :Apr 1, :Jan 1, :Apr 1, : 2009 : 2010 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : AZ : 329 285 275 1 2 3 0 0 0 CA : 400 410 360 45 53 80 0 2 0 CO : 670 650 630 365 355 295 5 5 5 ID : 103 120 122 97 90 82 10 5 1 IA : 380 380 420 150 190 180 0 0 0 KS : 1,190 1,250 1,190 1,085 990 1,045 5 10 5 NE : 1,400 1,440 1,410 910 910 870 10 10 10 NM : 72 D D 65 D D 0 D D OK : 190 220 190 140 145 150 0 0 0 SD : 125 115 125 85 92 93 15 28 17 TX : 1,780 1,650 1,610 1,028 1,029 1,029 2 1 1 WA : 90 94 101 69 71 69 1 1 1 : Oth Sts1/: 255 263 274 87 141 125 3 1 1 : US : 6,984 6,877 6,707 4,127 4,068 4,021 51 63 41 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. 1/ Beginning in July 2009, New Mexico is included in the Other State total. 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 U.S. 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. 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 setting 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 following table. 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 10.8 million head by more than 0.05 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.1 percent. The following table also 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 2,000 head, ranging from 0 to 18,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the final estimate 4 times and has been below the final estimate 5 times. This does not imply that the initial estimate is likely to understate or overstate final inventory. Reliability of Monthly Cattle on Feed Estimates 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : 90% : Difference Between : : : Confidence : First and Final : Number of : Root : Level : Estimates : Months Item : Mean :--------------------------------------------------------- : Square : : : : : : First : First : Error :Percent: (000) :Average:Smallest:Largest: Above : Below : : : Head : : : : Final : Final -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent -------- 1,000 Head -------- Number : Number on : Feed : 0.05 0.10 10.8 2 0 18 4 5 : Placements : 0.18 0.30 5.6 2 0 9 3 6 : Marketings : 0.30 0.50 9.5 3 0 21 4 6 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Based on data for the past 24 months. Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. 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 REPORTS!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are available free of charge. 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