Cattle on Feed
ISSN: 1948-9080
Released January 26, 2018, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
United States Cattle on Feed Up 8 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 11.5 million head on
January 1, 2018. The inventory was 8 percent above January 1, 2017. The
inventory included 7.34 million steers and steer calves, up 4 percent from
the previous year. This group accounted for 64 percent of the total
inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.15 million head, up
16 percent from 2017.
Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.80 million head, 1 percent
above 2016. Net placements were 1.73 million head. During December, placements
of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 470,000 head,
600-699 pounds were 410,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 445,000 head,
800-899 pounds were 279,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 100,000 head,
and 1,000 pounds and greater were 95,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during December totaled 1.75 million head, 1 percent
below 2016.
Other disappearance totaled 74,000 head during December, 35 percent above
2016.
Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on
1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: January 1, 2017 and 2018
[December preceding year]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Number : Percent of
Item :---------------------------:
: 2017 : 2018 :previous year
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ---- 1,000 head ---- percent
:
On feed December 1 .....................: 10,652 11,516 108
Placed on feed during December .........: 1,785 1,799 101
Fed cattle marketed during December ....: 1,777 1,752 99
Other disappearance during December ....: 55 74 135
On feed January 1 ......................: 10,605 11,489 108
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(X) Not applicable.
Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on
1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: December 1, 2016 and 2017
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Number : Percent of
Item :---------------------------:
: 2016 : 2017 :previous year
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ---- 1,000 head ---- percent
:
On feed November 1 .....................: 10,665 11,332 106
Placed on feed during November .........: 1,843 2,099 114
Fed cattle marketed during November ....: 1,787 1,844 103
Other disappearance during November ....: 69 71 103
On feed December 1 .....................: 10,652 11,516 108
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: January 1, 2017 and 2018
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Number : Percent of
Item :---------------------------------------------------------
: 2017 : 2018 :previous year : inventory
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ---- 1,000 Head --- percent percent
:
Class on feed January 1 :
Steers and steer calves ..............: 7,022 7,335 104 64
Heifers and heifer calves ............: 3,583 4,154 116 36
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Cattle on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States:
2017 and 2018
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : January 1, 2018
: : :--------------------------------------------
State : January 1, 2017 :December 1, 2017 : : Percent of : Percent of
: : : Number :previous year :previous month
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ----
:
Arizona ..........: 250 261 269 108 103
California .......: 430 470 490 114 104
Colorado .........: 900 990 970 108 98
Idaho ............: 260 260 255 98 98
Iowa .............: 600 700 700 117 100
Kansas ...........: 2,170 2,310 2,290 106 99
Minnesota ........: 150 155 160 107 103
Nebraska .........: 2,370 2,590 2,610 110 101
Oklahoma .........: 300 315 315 105 100
South Dakota .....: 230 260 250 109 96
Texas ............: 2,420 2,660 2,640 109 99
Washington .......: 185 215 210 114 98
:
Other States .....: 340 330 330 97 100
:
United States ....: 10,605 11,516 11,489 108 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and
United States: 2016 and 2017
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : During December 2017
: During : During :--------------------------------------------
State :December 2016 :November 2017 : : Percent of : Percent of
: : : Number :previous year :previous month
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ----
:
Arizona ..........: 30 34 29 97 85
California .......: 65 71 83 128 117
Colorado .........: 130 150 120 92 80
Idaho ............: 38 48 35 92 73
Iowa .............: 104 122 100 96 82
Kansas ...........: 395 420 400 101 95
Minnesota ........: 19 26 21 111 81
Nebraska .........: 450 545 460 102 84
Oklahoma .........: 54 60 54 100 90
South Dakota .....: 38 54 32 84 59
Texas ............: 365 480 385 105 80
Washington .......: 32 43 27 84 63
:
Other States .....: 65 46 53 82 115
:
United States ....: 1,785 2,099 1,799 101 86
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: During December 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 ......: 30 30 30 25 15 (D) (D) 130
Kansas ........: 60 95 130 75 35 (D) (D) 395
Nebraska ......: 60 110 120 100 60 (D) (D) 450
Texas .........: 135 90 90 40 10 (D) (D) 365
:
Other States ..: 150 115 80 60 40 (D) (D) 445
:
United States .: 435 440 450 300 (X) 100 60 1,785
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: During November 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 ......: 45 40 30 20 15 (D) (D) 150
Kansas ........: 70 105 125 80 40 (D) (D) 420
Nebraska ......: 115 150 100 90 90 (D) (D) 545
Texas .........: 180 130 110 45 15 (D) (D) 480
:
Other States ..: 200 120 90 59 35 (D) (D) 504
:
United States .: 610 545 455 294 (X) 75 120 2,099
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: During December 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 ......: 30 30 25 20 15 (D) (D) 120
Kansas ........: 55 95 135 75 40 (D) (D) 400
Nebraska ......: 55 105 120 95 85 (D) (D) 460
Texas .........: 165 85 85 35 15 (D) (D) 385
:
Other States ..: 165 95 80 54 40 (D) (D) 434
:
United States .: 470 410 445 279 (X) 100 95 1,799
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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 December 2017
: During : During :--------------------------------------------
State :December 2016 :November 2017 : : Percent of : Percent of
: : : Number :previous year :previous month
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ----
:
Arizona ..........: 30 24 20 67 83
California .......: 52 38 60 115 158
Colorado .........: 135 135 135 100 100
Idaho ............: 36 41 38 106 93
Iowa .............: 102 110 98 96 89
Kansas ...........: 430 380 405 94 107
Minnesota ........: 14 20 15 107 75
Nebraska .........: 440 460 425 97 92
Oklahoma .........: 43 63 52 121 83
South Dakota .....: 46 53 39 85 74
Texas ............: 365 445 385 105 87
Washington .......: 41 36 30 73 83
:
Other States .....: 43 39 50 116 128
:
United States ....: 1,777 1,844 1,752 99 95
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States:
2016 and 2017
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : During December 2017
: During : During :--------------------------------------------
State :December 2016 :November 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 ............: 2 2 2 100 100
Iowa .............: 2 2 2 100 100
Kansas ...........: 15 20 15 100 75
Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100
Nebraska .........: 10 15 15 150 100
Oklahoma .........: 1 2 2 200 100
South Dakota .....: 2 1 3 150 300
Texas ............: 10 15 20 200 133
Washington .......: 1 2 2 200 100
:
Other States .....: 2 2 3 150 150
:
United States ....: 55 71 74 135 104
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States:
2017 and 2018
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Steers and steer calves : Heifers and heifer calves
:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
State : Jan 1, : Oct 1, : Jan 1, : Jan 1, : Oct 1, : Jan 1,
: 2017 : 2017 : 2018 : 2017 : 2017 : 2018
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: 1,000 Head
:
Arizona ............: 242 241 258 8 7 11
California .........: 400 400 440 30 30 50
Colorado ...........: 570 560 565 330 380 405
Idaho ..............: 180 165 175 80 80 80
Iowa ...............: 460 480 530 140 170 170
Kansas .............: 1,170 1,160 1,190 1,000 1,090 1,100
Minnesota ..........: 125 98 127 25 22 33
Nebraska ...........: 1,510 1,490 1,640 860 800 970
Oklahoma ...........: 190 185 185 110 135 130
South Dakota .......: 135 135 145 95 85 105
Texas ..............: 1,710 1,700 1,730 710 900 910
Washington .........: 115 130 140 70 70 70
:
Other States .......: 215 190 210 125 110 120
:
United States ......: 7,022 6,934 7,335 3,583 3,879 4,154
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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 11.5 million head by more than 0.0 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 1,000 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
3 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 0.1 1 0 15 3 1
:
Placements ...................: 0.2 0.4 2 0 15 3 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.
Travis Averill, Chief, Livestock Branch ......... (202) 720-3570
Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ........... (202) 690-2424
Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ...... (202) 720-3240
Donnie Fike - Dairy Products ................. (202) 690-3236
Heidi Gleich - 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
Vacant - Sheep and Goats ..................... (202) 720-8784
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