Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released December 23, 2022, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Down 3 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 11.7 million head on December 1, 2022. The inventory was 3 percent below December 1, 2021. Placements in feedlots during November totaled 1.93 million head, 2 percent below 2021. Net placements were 1.87 million head. During November, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 540,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 465,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 405,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 290,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 135,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 90,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during November totaled 1.89 million head, 1 percent above 2021. Marketings were the highest for November since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 57,000 head during November, 7 percent below 2021. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: December 1, 2021 and 2022 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2021 : 2022 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed November 1 .....................: 11,948 11,696 98 Placed on feed during November .........: 1,967 1,925 98 Fed cattle marketed during November ....: 1,869 1,891 101 Other disappearance during November ....: 61 57 93 On feed December 1 .....................: 11,985 11,673 97 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: November 1, 2021 and 2022 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2021 : 2022 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed October 1 ......................: 11,550 11,454 99 Placed on feed during October ..........: 2,246 2,100 93 Fed cattle marketed during October .....: 1,791 1,804 101 Other disappearance during October .....: 57 54 95 On feed November 1 .....................: 11,948 11,696 98 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : December 1, 2022 : : :-------------------------------------------- State :December 1, 2021 :November 1, 2022 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 270 271 268 99 99 California .......: 550 505 505 92 100 Colorado .........: 1,140 1,070 1,040 91 97 Idaho ............: 310 305 315 102 103 Iowa .............: 610 620 630 103 102 Kansas ...........: 2,480 2,330 2,330 94 100 Minnesota ........: 105 95 95 90 100 Nebraska .........: 2,580 2,600 2,610 101 100 Oklahoma .........: 300 290 280 93 97 South Dakota .....: 235 210 220 94 105 Texas ............: 2,880 2,860 2,810 98 98 Washington .......: 210 230 250 119 109 : Other States .....: 315 310 320 102 103 : United States ....: 11,985 11,696 11,673 97 100 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During November 2022 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :November 2021 : October 2022 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 27 19 23 85 121 California .......: 61 44 60 98 136 Colorado .........: 160 175 145 91 83 Idaho ............: 44 62 53 120 85 Iowa .............: 94 105 105 112 100 Kansas ...........: 435 410 420 97 102 Minnesota ........: 16 24 17 106 71 Nebraska .........: 485 590 505 104 86 Oklahoma .........: 44 44 38 86 86 South Dakota .....: 63 72 75 119 104 Texas ............: 445 440 370 83 84 Washington .......: 32 55 56 175 102 : Other States .....: 61 60 58 95 97 : United States ....: 1,967 2,100 1,925 98 92 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During November 2021 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ......: 50 35 30 25 20 (D) (D) 160 Kansas ........: 70 110 125 85 45 (D) (D) 435 Nebraska ......: 95 120 90 85 95 (D) (D) 485 Texas .........: 180 120 85 45 15 (D) (D) 445 : Other States ..: 170 100 70 57 45 (D) (D) 442 : United States .: 565 485 400 297 (X) 130 90 1,967 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During October 2022 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ......: 35 35 35 40 30 (D) (D) 175 Kansas ........: 65 90 125 85 45 (D) (D) 410 Nebraska ......: 135 120 95 115 125 (D) (D) 590 Texas .........: 150 110 110 55 15 (D) (D) 440 : Other States ..: 160 105 80 85 55 (D) (D) 485 : United States .: 545 460 445 380 (X) 190 80 2,100 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During November 2022 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 30 30 20 20 (D) (D) 145 Kansas ........: 65 105 125 80 45 (D) (D) 420 Nebraska ......: 100 125 95 85 100 (D) (D) 505 Texas .........: 145 95 75 40 15 (D) (D) 370 : Other States ..: 185 110 80 65 45 (D) (D) 485 : United States .: 540 465 405 290 (X) 135 90 1,925 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During November 2022 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :November 2021 : October 2022 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 29 21 25 86 119 California .......: 49 42 53 108 126 Colorado .........: 165 170 170 103 100 Idaho ............: 43 45 42 98 93 Iowa .............: 92 83 94 102 113 Kansas ...........: 455 430 410 90 95 Minnesota ........: 15 13 16 107 123 Nebraska .........: 450 450 480 107 107 Oklahoma .........: 43 38 47 109 124 South Dakota .....: 57 45 63 111 140 Texas ............: 400 390 410 103 105 Washington .......: 26 34 35 135 103 : Other States .....: 45 43 46 102 107 : United States ....: 1,869 1,804 1,891 101 105 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During November 2022 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :November 2021 : October 2022 : Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 7 7 7 100 100 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 1 2 1 100 50 Iowa .............: 2 2 1 50 50 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 15 10 15 100 150 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 1 2 2 200 100 Texas ............: 15 10 10 67 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 1 2 2 200 100 : United States ....: 61 54 57 93 106 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 11.7 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 10,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 2 times and has been below the latest estimate 7 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 ---- : On feed ......................: 0.0 0.1 2 0 10 7 2 : Placements ...................: 0.2 0.3 3 0 8 9 10 : Marketings ...................: 0.1 0.2 2 0 7 5 8 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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) 692-0069 Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ............................................... (202) 690-2424 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter .......................................... (202) 690-8632 Ryan Cowen - Cattle, Cattle on Feed .............................................. (202) 720-3040 Anthony Fischer - Hogs and Pigs .................................................. (202) 720-3106 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows ...................................... (202) 720-3278 Suzanne Richards - Dairy Products (202) 720-4448 Vacant - Sheep and Goats .. (202) 690-3236 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. 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