Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released April 18, 2019, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Up 2 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 12.0 million head on April 1, 2019. The inventory was 2 percent above April 1, 2018. This is the highest April 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. The inventory included 7.45 million steers and steer calves, down 1 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 62 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.51 million head, up 8 percent from 2018. Placements in feedlots during March totaled 2.01 million head, 5 percent above 2018. Net placements were 1.95 million head. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 325,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 300,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 595,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 539,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 185,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 70,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.78 million head, 3 percent below 2018. Other disappearance totaled 69,000 head during March, 3 percent above 2018. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: April 1, 2018 and 2019 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2018 : 2019 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed March 1 ........................: 11,715 11,796 101 Placed on feed during March ............: 1,921 2,014 105 Fed cattle marketed during March .......: 1,840 1,777 97 Other disappearance during March .......: 67 69 103 On feed April 1 ........................: 11,729 11,964 102 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: March 1, 2018 and 2019 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2018 : 2019 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed February 1 .....................: 11,630 11,688 100 Placed on feed during February .........: 1,817 1,857 102 Fed cattle marketed during February ....: 1,675 1,683 100 Other disappearance during February ....: 57 66 116 On feed March 1 ........................: 11,715 11,796 101 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: April 1, 2018 and 2019 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :--------------------------------------------------------- : 2018 : 2019 :previous year : inventory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head --- percent percent : Class on feed April 1 : Steers and steer calves ..............: 7,535 7,450 99 62 Heifers and heifer calves ............: 4,194 4,514 108 38 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : April 1, 2019 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : April 1, 2018 : March 1, 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 294 311 314 107 101 California .......: 500 525 535 107 102 Colorado .........: 950 1,050 1,060 112 101 Idaho ............: 250 275 285 114 104 Iowa .............: 740 710 710 96 100 Kansas ...........: 2,340 2,300 2,380 102 103 Minnesota ........: 160 150 150 94 100 Nebraska .........: 2,690 2,600 2,580 96 99 Oklahoma .........: 310 310 315 102 102 South Dakota .....: 260 260 250 96 96 Texas ............: 2,700 2,770 2,850 106 103 Washington .......: 210 225 225 107 100 : Other States .....: 325 310 310 95 100 : United States ....: 11,729 11,796 11,964 102 101 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During March 2019 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2018 :February 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 34 28 31 91 111 California .......: 68 55 71 104 129 Colorado .........: 165 185 200 121 108 Idaho ............: 29 38 44 152 116 Iowa .............: 107 133 104 97 78 Kansas ...........: 405 425 470 116 111 Minnesota ........: 17 14 17 100 121 Nebraska .........: 480 455 425 89 93 Oklahoma .........: 53 44 60 113 136 South Dakota .....: 27 42 29 107 69 Texas ............: 455 370 480 105 130 Washington .......: 29 26 34 117 131 : Other States .....: 52 42 49 94 117 : United States ....: 1,921 1,857 2,014 105 108 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During March 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 ......: 25 25 40 50 25 (D) (D) 165 Kansas ........: 40 55 125 125 60 (D) (D) 405 Nebraska ......: 35 75 115 150 105 (D) (D) 480 Texas .........: 115 85 135 95 25 (D) (D) 455 : Other States ..: 100 45 115 111 45 (D) (D) 416 : United States .: 315 285 530 531 (X) 185 75 1,921 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During February 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 35 50 45 25 (D) (D) 185 Kansas ........: 45 75 150 115 40 (D) (D) 425 Nebraska ......: 30 80 145 125 75 (D) (D) 455 Texas .........: 130 75 85 60 20 (D) (D) 370 : Other States ..: 105 80 100 97 40 (D) (D) 422 : United States .: 340 345 530 442 (X) 135 65 1,857 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During March 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 35 55 55 25 (D) (D) 200 Kansas ........: 45 55 170 140 60 (D) (D) 470 Nebraska ......: 25 55 115 130 100 (D) (D) 425 Texas .........: 115 100 140 100 25 (D) (D) 480 : Other States ..: 110 55 115 114 45 (D) (D) 439 : United States .: 325 300 595 539 (X) 185 70 2,014 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 March 2019 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2018 :February 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 24 19 27 113 142 California .......: 55 51 57 104 112 Colorado .........: 160 170 185 116 109 Idaho ............: 32 35 32 100 91 Iowa .............: 93 109 100 108 92 Kansas ...........: 400 365 375 94 103 Minnesota ........: 21 18 16 76 89 Nebraska .........: 465 415 425 91 102 Oklahoma .........: 57 48 53 93 110 South Dakota .....: 36 34 37 103 109 Texas ............: 420 340 390 93 115 Washington .......: 28 30 33 118 110 : Other States .....: 49 49 47 96 96 : United States ....: 1,840 1,683 1,777 97 106 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During March 2019 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2018 :February 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 3 4 4 133 100 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 2 3 2 100 67 Iowa .............: 4 4 4 100 100 Kansas ...........: 15 10 15 100 150 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 15 20 20 133 100 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 2 200 200 South Dakota .....: 1 3 2 200 67 Texas ............: 15 10 10 67 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 3 3 2 67 67 : United States ....: 67 66 69 103 105 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 : Apr 1, : Jan 1, : Apr 1, : Apr 1, : Jan 1, : Apr 1, : 2018 : 2019 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : 2019 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ............: 284 285 305 10 10 9 California .........: 450 465 465 50 70 70 Colorado ...........: 535 570 580 415 440 480 Idaho ..............: 170 185 185 80 95 100 Iowa ...............: 540 510 480 200 180 230 Kansas .............: 1,240 1,270 1,320 1,100 1,060 1,060 Minnesota ..........: 131 130 130 29 25 20 Nebraska ...........: 1,760 1,570 1,610 930 990 970 Oklahoma ...........: 165 180 170 145 135 145 South Dakota .......: 150 135 145 110 110 105 Texas ..............: 1,760 1,640 1,730 940 1,090 1,120 Washington .........: 140 140 140 70 85 85 : Other States .......: 210 200 190 115 120 120 : United States ......: 7,535 7,280 7,450 4,194 4,410 4,514 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 12.0 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 0 times 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 0 : Placements ...................: 0.2 0.3 1 0 15 3 0 : Marketings ...................: 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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) 690-8632 Holly Brenize - Sheep and Goats .............. (202) 720-0585 Donnie Fike - Dairy Products ................. (202) 720-4448 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 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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