Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released September 22, 2017, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Up 4 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 10.5 million head on September 1, 2017. The inventory was 4 percent above September 1, 2016. Placements in feedlots during August totaled 1.93 million head, 3 percent above 2016. Net placements were 1.88 million head. During August, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 360,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 285,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 418,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 485,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 270,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 110,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during August totaled 1.98 million head, 6 percent above 2016. Other disappearance totaled 49,000 head during August, 20 percent above 2016. Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: September 1, 2016 and 2017 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2016 : 2017 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed August 1 .......................: 10,165 10,604 104 Placed on feed during August ...........: 1,879 1,928 103 Fed cattle marketed during August ......: 1,868 1,979 106 Other disappearance during August ......: 41 49 120 On feed September 1 ....................: 10,135 10,504 104 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: August 1, 2016 and 2017 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2016 : 2017 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed July 1 .........................: 10,356 10,821 104 Placed on feed during July .............: 1,572 1,615 103 Fed cattle marketed during July ........: 1,713 1,784 104 Other disappearance during July ........: 50 48 96 On feed August 1 .......................: 10,165 10,604 104 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : September 1, 2017 : : :-------------------------------------------- State :September 1, 2016: August 1, 2017 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 271 244 244 90 100 California .......: 405 430 420 104 98 Colorado .........: 800 880 860 108 98 Idaho ............: 225 250 240 107 96 Iowa .............: 580 650 640 110 98 Kansas ...........: 2,170 2,180 2,220 102 102 Minnesota ........: 119 130 120 101 92 Nebraska .........: 2,100 2,160 2,150 102 100 Oklahoma .........: 300 315 315 105 100 South Dakota .....: 215 220 215 100 98 Texas ............: 2,490 2,650 2,590 104 98 Washington .......: 180 205 200 111 98 : Other States .....: 280 290 290 104 100 : United States ....: 10,135 10,604 10,504 104 99 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During August 2017 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : August 2016 : July 2017 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 14 18 20 143 111 California .......: 40 34 39 98 115 Colorado .........: 170 115 175 103 152 Idaho ............: 45 35 44 98 126 Iowa .............: 71 60 92 130 153 Kansas ...........: 485 430 495 102 115 Minnesota ........: 15 15 20 133 133 Nebraska .........: 465 385 470 101 122 Oklahoma .........: 58 41 65 112 159 South Dakota .....: 33 26 45 136 173 Texas ............: 395 380 385 97 101 Washington .......: 35 39 33 94 85 : Other States .....: 53 37 45 85 122 : United States ....: 1,879 1,615 1,928 103 119 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During August 2016 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ......: 25 20 35 50 40 (D) (D) 170 Kansas ........: 75 85 135 120 70 (D) (D) 485 Nebraska ......: 40 45 90 115 175 (D) (D) 465 Texas .........: 140 100 95 50 10 (D) (D) 395 : Other States ..: 80 40 74 100 70 (D) (D) 364 : United States .: 360 290 429 435 (X) 245 120 1,879 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During July 2017 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 15 25 30 20 (D) (D) 115 Kansas ........: 60 75 130 110 55 (D) (D) 430 Nebraska ......: 40 35 85 110 115 (D) (D) 385 Texas .........: 155 80 80 45 20 (D) (D) 380 : Other States ..: 80 30 65 75 55 (D) (D) 305 : United States .: 360 235 385 370 (X) 190 75 1,615 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During August 2017 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 20 30 50 50 (D) (D) 175 Kansas ........: 70 95 135 120 75 (D) (D) 495 Nebraska ......: 40 40 90 140 160 (D) (D) 470 Texas .........: 135 85 90 60 15 (D) (D) 385 : Other States ..: 90 45 73 115 80 (D) (D) 403 : United States .: 360 285 418 485 (X) 270 110 1,928 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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. Number of Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During August 2017 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : August 2016 : July 2017 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 24 19 19 79 100 California .......: 42 41 46 110 112 Colorado .........: 175 160 190 109 119 Idaho ............: 49 43 52 106 121 Iowa .............: 90 79 101 112 128 Kansas ...........: 415 430 445 107 103 Minnesota ........: 28 24 29 104 121 Nebraska .........: 450 445 470 104 106 Oklahoma .........: 57 50 64 112 128 South Dakota .....: 37 29 49 132 169 Texas ............: 415 390 435 105 112 Washington .......: 44 38 36 82 95 : Other States .....: 42 36 43 102 119 : United States ....: 1,868 1,784 1,979 106 111 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During August 2017 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : August 2016 : July 2017 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 3 3 3 100 100 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 1 2 2 200 100 Iowa .............: 1 1 1 100 100 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 5 10 10 200 100 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 1 2 1 100 50 Texas ............: 10 10 10 100 100 Washington .......: 1 1 2 200 200 : Other States .....: 1 1 2 200 200 : United States ....: 41 48 49 120 102 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 0.1 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 10.5 million head by more than 0.1 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.1 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 15,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 1 time and has been below the latest estimate 6 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 ...............: 0.1 0.1 3 0 15 6 1 : Placements ...................: 0.2 0.4 2 0 15 6 2 : Marketings ...................: 0.1 0.2 0 0 10 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@nass.usda.gov. Vacant, Chief, Livestock Branch ................. (202) 720-3570 Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ........... (202) 690-2424 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ...... (202) 720-3240 David Colwell - Sheep and Goats .............. (202) 720-8784 Donnie Fike - Dairy Products ................. (202) 690-3236 Michael Klamm - 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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