Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released August 23, 2019, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Up Slightly Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.1 million head on August 1, 2019. The inventory was slightly above August 1, 2018. This is the highest August 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. Placements in feedlots during July totaled 1.71 million head, 2 percent below 2018. Net placements were 1.63 million head. During July, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 360,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 260,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 410,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 385,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 200,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 90,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during July totaled 2.00 million head, 7 percent above 2018. Other disappearance totaled 71,000 head during July, 13 percent above 2018. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: August 1, 2018 and 2019 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2018 : 2019 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed July 1 .........................: 11,287 11,480 102 Placed on feed during July .............: 1,742 1,705 98 Fed cattle marketed during July ........: 1,873 2,002 107 Other disappearance during July ........: 63 71 113 On feed August 1 .......................: 11,093 11,112 100 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: July 1, 2018 and 2019 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2018 : 2019 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed June 1 .........................: 11,553 11,740 102 Placed on feed during June .............: 1,798 1,749 97 Fed cattle marketed during June ........: 2,006 1,943 97 Other disappearance during June ........: 58 66 114 On feed July 1 .........................: 11,287 11,480 102 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : August 1, 2019 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : August 1, 2018 : July 1, 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 298 295 272 91 92 California .......: 525 535 535 102 100 Colorado .........: 890 1,030 970 109 94 Idaho ............: 245 290 280 114 97 Iowa .............: 700 650 630 90 97 Kansas ...........: 2,230 2,360 2,340 105 99 Minnesota ........: 130 125 110 85 88 Nebraska .........: 2,330 2,300 2,190 94 95 Oklahoma .........: 315 320 315 100 98 South Dakota .....: 200 210 195 98 93 Texas ............: 2,720 2,840 2,760 101 97 Washington .......: 220 235 225 102 96 : Other States .....: 290 290 290 100 100 : United States ....: 11,093 11,480 11,112 100 97 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During July 2019 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : July 2018 : June 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 23 14 17 74 121 California .......: 52 61 63 121 103 Colorado .........: 140 135 130 93 96 Idaho ............: 44 42 38 86 90 Iowa .............: 66 65 61 92 94 Kansas ...........: 465 430 450 97 105 Minnesota ........: 17 14 11 65 79 Nebraska .........: 400 415 400 100 96 Oklahoma .........: 45 62 45 100 73 South Dakota .....: 26 31 23 88 74 Texas ............: 385 400 380 99 95 Washington .......: 31 32 32 103 100 : Other States .....: 48 48 55 115 115 : United States ....: 1,742 1,749 1,705 98 97 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During July 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 20 30 30 30 (D) (D) 140 Kansas ........: 60 95 155 105 50 (D) (D) 465 Nebraska ......: 45 45 90 120 100 (D) (D) 400 Texas .........: 165 95 70 40 15 (D) (D) 385 : Other States ..: 110 35 70 72 65 (D) (D) 352 : United States .: 410 290 415 367 (X) 175 85 1,742 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During June 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 20 30 30 30 (D) (D) 135 Kansas ........: 60 80 130 105 55 (D) (D) 430 Nebraska ......: 40 55 80 115 125 (D) (D) 415 Texas .........: 160 90 80 50 20 (D) (D) 400 : Other States ..: 100 50 69 85 65 (D) (D) 369 : United States .: 385 295 389 385 (X) 185 110 1,749 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During July 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 20 30 25 30 (D) (D) 130 Kansas ........: 50 75 145 115 65 (D) (D) 450 Nebraska ......: 35 35 95 125 110 (D) (D) 400 Texas .........: 155 95 70 45 15 (D) (D) 380 : Other States ..: 95 35 70 75 70 (D) (D) 345 : United States .: 360 260 410 385 (X) 200 90 1,705 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 July 2019 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : July 2018 : June 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 21 28 39 186 139 California .......: 53 57 59 111 104 Colorado .........: 170 160 185 109 116 Idaho ............: 38 36 46 121 128 Iowa .............: 74 72 77 104 107 Kansas ...........: 465 440 455 98 103 Minnesota ........: 21 18 25 119 139 Nebraska .........: 460 520 490 107 94 Oklahoma .........: 43 56 49 114 88 South Dakota .....: 37 48 37 100 77 Texas ............: 390 420 445 114 106 Washington .......: 40 36 41 103 114 : Other States .....: 61 52 54 89 104 : United States ....: 1,873 1,943 2,002 107 103 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During July 2019 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : July 2018 : June 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 4 4 4 100 100 Colorado .........: 10 5 5 50 100 Idaho ............: 1 1 2 200 200 Iowa .............: 2 3 4 200 133 Kansas ...........: 10 10 15 150 150 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 10 25 20 200 80 Oklahoma .........: 2 1 1 50 100 South Dakota .....: 4 3 1 25 33 Texas ............: 15 10 15 100 150 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 2 1 1 50 100 : United States ....: 63 66 71 113 108 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 11.1 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) 720-3570 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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