Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released April 21, 2017, 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 10.9 million head on April 1, 2017. The inventory was slightly above April 1, 2016. The inventory included 7.23 million steers and steer calves, down 2 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 66 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.67 million head, up 5 percent from 2016. Placements in feedlots during March totaled 2.10 million head, 11 percent above 2016. Placements were the highest for March since the series began in 1996. Net placements were 2.05 million head. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 350,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 295,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 620,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 585,000, 900-999 pounds were 185,000, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 67,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.91 million head, 10 percent above 2016. Other disappearance totaled 56,000 head during March, 10 percent below 2016. Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: April 1, 2016 and 2017 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2016 : 2017 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed March 1 ........................: 10,770 10,772 100 Placed on feed during March ............: 1,892 2,102 111 Fed cattle marketed during March .......: 1,747 1,914 110 Other disappearance during March .......: 62 56 90 On feed April 1 ........................: 10,853 10,904 100 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: March 1, 2016 and 2017 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2016 : 2017 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed February 1 .....................: 10,709 10,782 101 Placed on feed during February .........: 1,710 1,694 99 Fed cattle marketed during February ....: 1,591 1,648 104 Other disappearance during February ....: 58 56 97 On feed March 1 ........................: 10,770 10,772 100 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: April 1, 2016 and 2017 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :--------------------------------------------------------- : 2016 : 2017 :previous year : inventory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head --- percent percent : Class on feed April 1 : Steers and steer calves ..............: 7,361 7,230 98 66 Heifers and heifer calves ............: 3,492 3,674 105 34 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : April 1, 2017 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : April 1, 2016 : March 1, 2017 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 303 242 239 79 99 California .......: 420 420 415 99 99 Colorado .........: 900 910 930 103 102 Idaho ............: 240 250 255 106 102 Iowa .............: 640 650 670 105 103 Kansas ...........: 2,180 2,210 2,260 104 102 Minnesota ........: 160 160 160 100 100 Nebraska .........: 2,440 2,440 2,460 101 101 Oklahoma .........: 295 295 300 102 102 South Dakota .....: 265 250 250 94 100 Texas ............: 2,500 2,440 2,460 98 101 Washington .......: 195 185 195 100 105 : Other States .....: 315 320 310 98 97 : United States ....: 10,853 10,772 10,904 100 101 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During March 2017 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2016 :February 2017 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 31 27 26 84 96 California .......: 44 47 59 134 126 Colorado .........: 165 180 195 118 108 Idaho ............: 37 36 41 111 114 Iowa .............: 94 102 116 123 114 Kansas ...........: 425 380 490 115 129 Minnesota ........: 17 21 23 135 110 Nebraska .........: 455 425 495 109 116 Oklahoma .........: 53 41 73 138 178 South Dakota .....: 34 44 39 115 89 Texas ............: 455 320 460 101 144 Washington .......: 38 34 42 111 124 : Other States .....: 44 37 43 98 116 : United States ....: 1,892 1,694 2,102 111 124 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During March 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 30 40 45 25 (D) (D) 165 Kansas ........: 55 70 125 130 45 (D) (D) 425 Nebraska ......: 55 60 110 135 95 (D) (D) 455 Texas .........: 115 70 125 120 25 (D) (D) 455 : Other States ..: 102 45 90 110 45 (D) (D) 392 : United States .: 352 275 490 540 (X) 175 60 1,892 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During February 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 40 50 45 20 (D) (D) 180 Kansas ........: 50 70 120 100 40 (D) (D) 380 Nebraska ......: 40 75 140 115 55 (D) (D) 425 Texas .........: 100 70 85 55 10 (D) (D) 320 : Other States ..: 100 75 95 80 39 (D) (D) 389 : United States .: 315 330 490 395 (X) 124 40 1,694 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During March 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 60 50 25 (D) (D) 195 Kansas ........: 60 75 150 145 60 (D) (D) 490 Nebraska ......: 50 65 135 150 95 (D) (D) 495 Texas .........: 110 75 140 110 25 (D) (D) 460 : Other States ..: 100 50 135 130 47 (D) (D) 462 : United States .: 350 295 620 585 (X) 185 67 2,102 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. (X) Not applicable. 1/ The 900+ weight group is the sum of 900-999 pound and 1,000+ pound weight group. Number of Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During March 2017 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2016 :February 2017 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 24 27 28 117 104 California .......: 58 49 62 107 127 Colorado .........: 150 165 170 113 103 Idaho ............: 35 35 34 97 97 Iowa .............: 81 89 93 115 104 Kansas ...........: 390 370 430 110 116 Minnesota ........: 19 19 22 116 116 Nebraska .........: 425 420 465 109 111 Oklahoma .........: 47 45 67 143 149 South Dakota .....: 38 33 38 100 115 Texas ............: 395 320 425 108 133 Washington .......: 37 33 30 81 91 : Other States .....: 48 43 50 104 116 : United States ....: 1,747 1,648 1,914 110 116 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During March 2017 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2016 :February 2017 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 6 3 2 33 67 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 2 1 2 100 200 Iowa .............: 3 3 3 100 100 Kansas ...........: 15 10 10 67 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 10 15 10 100 67 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 1 1 1 100 100 Texas ............: 10 10 15 150 150 Washington .......: 1 1 2 200 200 : Other States .....: 6 4 3 50 75 : United States ....: 62 56 56 90 100 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers and steer calves : Heifers and heifer calves :----------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Apr 1, : Jan 1, : Apr 1, : Apr 1, : Jan 1, : Apr 1, : 2016 : 2017 : 2017 : 2016 : 2017 : 2017 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ............: 294 242 228 9 8 11 California .........: 400 400 390 20 30 25 Colorado ...........: 610 570 600 290 330 330 Idaho ..............: 165 180 175 75 80 80 Iowa ...............: 460 460 500 180 140 170 Kansas .............: 1,200 1,170 1,230 980 1,000 1,030 Minnesota ..........: 139 125 132 21 25 28 Nebraska ...........: 1,620 1,510 1,640 820 860 820 Oklahoma ...........: 185 190 185 110 110 115 South Dakota .......: 153 135 145 112 95 105 Texas ..............: 1,800 1,710 1,680 700 710 780 Washington .........: 125 115 125 70 70 70 : Other States .......: 210 215 200 105 125 110 : United States ......: 7,361 7,022 7,230 3,492 3,583 3,674 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 10.9 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 2,000 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 ...............: 0.0 0.1 2 0 15 6 1 : Placements ...................: 0.2 0.4 2 0 10 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. Dan Kerestes, 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. To set-up this free subscription, visit www.nass.usda.gov and click on "National" or "State" in upper right corner above "search" box to create an account and select the reports you would like to receive. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@nass.usda.gov. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.