Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released October 25, 2019, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Down 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 October 1, 2019. The inventory was 1 percent below October 1, 2018. The inventory included 6.87 million steers and steer calves, down 3 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 61 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.41 million head, up 2 percent from 2018. Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.09 million head, 2 percent above 2018. Net placements were 2.03 million head. During September, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 420,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 355,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 460,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 475,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 273,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 110,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.74 million head, 1 percent above 2018. Other disappearance totaled 59,000 head during September, 4 percent above 2018. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: October 1, 2018 and 2019 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2018 : 2019 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed September 1 ....................: 11,125 10,982 99 Placed on feed during September ........: 2,051 2,093 102 Fed cattle marketed during September ...: 1,719 1,738 101 Other disappearance during September ...: 57 59 104 On feed October 1 ......................: 11,400 11,278 99 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: September 1, 2018 and 2019 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2018 : 2019 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed August 1 .......................: 11,093 11,112 100 Placed on feed during August ...........: 2,070 1,884 91 Fed cattle marketed during August ......: 1,983 1,953 98 Other disappearance during August ......: 55 61 111 On feed September 1 ....................: 11,125 10,982 99 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: October 1, 2018 and 2019 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :--------------------------------------------------------- : 2018 : 2019 :previous year : inventory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head --- percent percent : Class on feed October 1 : Steers and steer calves ..............: 7,093 6,871 97 61 Heifers and heifer calves ............: 4,307 4,407 102 39 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : October 1, 2019 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : October 1, 2018 :September 1, 2019: : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 295 257 253 86 98 California .......: 520 530 525 101 99 Colorado .........: 980 930 990 101 106 Idaho ............: 260 270 275 106 102 Iowa .............: 690 630 640 93 102 Kansas ...........: 2,370 2,340 2,380 100 102 Minnesota ........: 130 100 105 81 105 Nebraska .........: 2,430 2,160 2,270 93 105 Oklahoma .........: 325 315 315 97 100 South Dakota .....: 215 205 210 98 102 Texas ............: 2,660 2,730 2,780 105 102 Washington .......: 220 220 225 102 102 : Other States .....: 305 295 310 102 105 : United States ....: 11,400 10,982 11,278 99 103 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During September 2019 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :September 2018: August 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 24 21 16 67 76 California .......: 48 56 50 104 89 Colorado .........: 235 170 240 102 141 Idaho ............: 49 44 58 118 132 Iowa .............: 89 71 82 92 115 Kansas ...........: 445 440 435 98 99 Minnesota ........: 24 14 22 92 157 Nebraska .........: 520 445 530 102 119 Oklahoma .........: 55 51 46 84 90 South Dakota .....: 59 45 53 90 118 Texas ............: 395 435 455 115 105 Washington .......: 44 43 46 105 107 : Other States .....: 64 49 60 94 122 : United States ....: 2,051 1,884 2,093 102 111 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During September 2018 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs : 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800-899 lbs : 900+ lbs1/ : 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 45 70 65 (D) (D) 235 Kansas ........: 65 90 130 100 60 (D) (D) 445 Nebraska ......: 55 55 85 140 185 (D) (D) 520 Texas .........: 145 105 90 45 10 (D) (D) 395 : Other States ..: 130 55 80 111 80 (D) (D) 456 : United States .: 425 330 430 466 (X) 280 120 2,051 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During August 2019 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 25 35 45 40 (D) (D) 170 Kansas ........: 60 80 125 120 55 (D) (D) 440 Nebraska ......: 40 40 85 130 150 (D) (D) 445 Texas .........: 165 110 100 50 10 (D) (D) 435 : Other States ..: 95 45 79 95 80 (D) (D) 394 : United States .: 385 300 424 440 (X) 230 105 1,884 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During September 2019 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 50 70 65 (D) (D) 240 Kansas ........: 60 90 130 100 55 (D) (D) 435 Nebraska ......: 50 60 95 150 175 (D) (D) 530 Texas .........: 160 130 105 50 10 (D) (D) 455 : Other States ..: 120 50 80 105 78 (D) (D) 433 : United States .: 420 355 460 475 (X) 273 110 2,093 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During September 2019 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :September 2018: August 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 23 35 19 83 54 California .......: 49 55 50 102 91 Colorado .........: 150 205 175 117 85 Idaho ............: 39 53 50 128 94 Iowa .............: 75 69 70 93 101 Kansas ...........: 375 430 385 103 90 Minnesota ........: 18 23 16 89 70 Nebraska .........: 410 460 410 100 89 Oklahoma .........: 48 49 44 92 90 South Dakota .....: 42 34 46 110 135 Texas ............: 405 450 390 96 87 Washington .......: 33 47 40 121 85 : Other States .....: 52 43 43 83 100 : United States ....: 1,719 1,953 1,738 101 89 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During September 2019 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :September 2018: August 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 4 6 5 125 83 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 5 1 3 60 300 Iowa .............: 4 2 2 50 100 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 10 15 10 100 67 Oklahoma .........: 2 2 2 100 100 South Dakota .....: 2 1 2 100 200 Texas ............: 10 15 15 150 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 2 1 2 100 200 : United States ....: 57 61 59 104 97 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers and steer calves : Heifers and heifer calves :----------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Oct 1, : Jul 1, : Oct 1, : Oct 1, : Jul 1, : Oct 1, : 2018 : 2019 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : 2019 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ............: 288 290 251 7 5 2 California .........: 465 460 455 55 75 70 Colorado ...........: 550 520 520 430 510 470 Idaho ..............: 175 195 180 85 95 95 Iowa ...............: 500 480 440 190 170 200 Kansas .............: 1,220 1,240 1,270 1,150 1,120 1,110 Minnesota ..........: 105 110 90 25 15 15 Nebraska ...........: 1,510 1,410 1,360 920 890 910 Oklahoma ...........: 185 155 175 140 165 140 South Dakota .......: 115 130 120 100 80 90 Texas ..............: 1,650 1,700 1,690 1,010 1,140 1,090 Washington .........: 140 140 130 80 95 95 : Other States .......: 190 180 190 115 110 120 : United States ......: 7,093 7,010 6,871 4,307 4,470 4,407 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 0.0 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 0.0 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.0 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 1,000 head, ranging from 0 to 10,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 1 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 ...............: 0.0 0.0 1 0 10 2 1 : Placements ...................: 0.1 0.3 1 0 10 2 1 : Marketings ...................: 0.0 0.0 0 0 2 0 1 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Holly Brenize - Sheep and Goats .............. (202) 720-0585 Donnie Fike - Dairy Products ................. (202) 720-4448 Heidi Lanouette - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ..... (202) 720-3040 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 Seth Riggins - 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: www.nass.usda.gov Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e- mail subscription. 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