Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released April 22, 2016, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Up 1 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 10.9 million head on April 1, 2016. The inventory was 1 percent above April 1, 2015. The inventory included 7.36 million steers and steer calves, down 1 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 68 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.49 million head, up 4 percent from 2015. Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.89 million head, 5 percent above 2015. Net placements were 1.83 million head. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 352,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 275,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 495,000 head, and 800 pounds and greater were 770,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.75 million head, 7 percent above 2015. Other disappearance totaled 62,000 head during March, 10 percent below 2015. Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: April 1, 2015 and 2016 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2015 : 2016 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed March 1 ........................: 10,688 10,770 101 Placed on feed during March ............: 1,809 1,892 105 Fed cattle marketed during March .......: 1,631 1,747 107 Other disappearance during March .......: 69 62 90 On feed April 1 ........................: 10,797 10,853 101 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: March 1, 2015 and 2016 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2015 : 2016 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed February 1 .....................: 10,713 10,709 100 Placed on feed during February .........: 1,551 1,710 110 Fed cattle marketed during February ....: 1,516 1,591 105 Other disappearance during February ....: 60 58 97 On feed March 1 ........................: 10,688 10,770 101 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: April 1, 2015 and 2016 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2015 : 2016 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head --- percent : Class on feed April 1 : Steers and steer calves ..............: 7,455 7,361 99 Heifers and heifer calves ............: 3,342 3,492 104 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2015 and 2016 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : April 1, 2016 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : April 1, 2015 : March 1, 2016 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 241 297 303 126 102 California .......: 445 440 420 94 95 Colorado .........: 890 890 900 101 101 Idaho ............: 230 240 240 104 100 Iowa .............: 670 630 640 96 102 Kansas ...........: 2,110 2,160 2,180 103 101 Minnesota ........: 146 163 160 110 98 Nebraska .........: 2,530 2,420 2,440 96 101 Oklahoma .........: 285 290 295 104 102 South Dakota .....: 235 270 265 113 98 Texas ............: 2,470 2,450 2,500 101 102 Washington .......: 225 195 195 87 100 : Other States .....: 320 325 315 98 97 : United States ....: 10,797 10,770 10,853 101 101 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2015 and 2016 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During March 2016 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2015 :February 2016 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 25 43 31 124 72 California .......: 55 46 44 80 96 Colorado .........: 150 170 165 110 97 Idaho ............: 30 38 37 123 97 Iowa .............: 90 92 94 104 102 Kansas ...........: 410 375 425 104 113 Minnesota ........: 23 23 17 74 74 Nebraska .........: 440 395 455 103 115 Oklahoma .........: 49 54 53 108 98 South Dakota .....: 33 48 34 103 71 Texas ............: 420 345 455 108 132 Washington .......: 39 38 38 97 100 : Other States .....: 45 43 44 98 102 : United States ....: 1,809 1,710 1,892 105 111 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2015 - 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During March :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2015 : 2016 : 2015 : 2016 : 2015 : 2016 : 2015 : 2016 : 2015 : 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Colorado .........: 30 25 25 30 40 45 55 65 150 165 Kansas ...........: 60 55 65 70 110 125 175 175 410 425 Nebraska .........: 55 55 65 60 100 110 220 230 440 455 Texas ............: 115 115 70 70 120 125 115 145 420 455 : Other States .....: 105 102 50 45 79 90 155 155 389 392 : United States ....: 365 352 275 275 449 495 720 770 1,809 1,892 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : During February :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2015 : 2016 : 2015 : 2016 : 2015 : 2016 : 2015 : 2016 : 2015 : 2016 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Colorado .........: 25 25 25 40 40 40 60 65 150 170 Kansas ...........: 60 50 65 65 95 105 135 155 355 375 Nebraska .........: 60 45 65 60 100 105 175 185 400 395 Texas ............: 100 105 45 70 75 95 65 75 285 345 : Other States .....: 85 110 65 65 86 100 125 150 361 425 : United States ....: 330 335 265 300 396 445 560 630 1,551 1,710 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2015 and 2016 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During March 2016 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2015 :February 2016 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 21 21 24 114 114 California .......: 46 46 58 126 126 Colorado .........: 140 155 150 107 97 Idaho ............: 29 41 35 121 85 Iowa .............: 79 78 81 103 104 Kansas ...........: 370 345 390 105 113 Minnesota ........: 21 17 19 90 112 Nebraska .........: 395 420 425 108 101 Oklahoma .........: 38 43 47 124 109 South Dakota .....: 32 37 38 119 103 Texas ............: 385 315 395 103 125 Washington .......: 28 36 37 132 103 : Other States .....: 47 37 48 102 130 : United States ....: 1,631 1,591 1,747 107 110 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2015 and 2016 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During March 2016 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2015 :February 2016 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 6 1 1 17 100 California .......: 4 5 6 150 120 Colorado .........: 10 5 5 50 100 Idaho ............: 1 2 2 200 100 Iowa .............: 1 4 3 300 75 Kansas ...........: 10 10 15 150 150 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 15 15 10 67 67 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 1 1 1 100 100 Texas ............: 15 10 10 67 100 Washington .......: 1 2 1 100 50 : Other States .....: 3 1 6 200 600 : United States ....: 69 58 62 90 107 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States: 2015 and 2016 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers and steer calves : Heifers and heifer calves :----------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Apr 1, : Jan 1, : Apr 1, : Apr 1, : Jan 1, : Apr 1, : 2015 : 2016 : 2016 : 2015 : 2016 : 2016 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ............: 237 247 294 4 8 9 California .........: 410 420 400 35 30 20 Colorado ...........: 610 590 610 280 280 290 Idaho ..............: 150 165 165 80 75 75 Iowa ...............: 520 470 460 150 150 180 Kansas .............: 1,190 1,160 1,200 920 930 980 Minnesota ..........: 128 127 139 18 28 21 Nebraska ...........: 1,830 1,560 1,620 700 860 820 Oklahoma ...........: 200 185 185 85 85 110 South Dakota .......: 150 150 153 85 105 112 Texas ..............: 1,680 1,740 1,800 790 690 700 Washington .........: 140 125 125 85 70 70 : Other States .......: 210 225 210 110 100 105 : United States ......: 7,455 7,164 7,361 3,342 3,411 3,492 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 each State office. 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 0.5 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 0.5 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.8 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 33,000 head, ranging from 0 to 97,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 9 times and has been below the latest estimate 8 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 ...............: 0.5 0.8 33 0 97 8 9 : Placements ...................: 0.5 0.9 5 0 28 14 3 : 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. Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch ........... (202) 720-3570 Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ........... (202) 690-2424 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ...... (202) 720-3240 Doug Bounds - Hogs and Pigs .................. (202) 720-3106 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 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: http://www.nass.usda.gov Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e- mail subscription. 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