Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released July 19, 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 11.5 million head on July 1, 2019. The inventory was 2 percent above July 1, 2018. This is the highest July 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. The inventory included 7.01 million steers and steer calves, down 2 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 61 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.47 million head, up 8 percent from 2018. Placements in feedlots during June totaled 1.76 million head, 2 percent below 2018. Net placements were 1.69 million head. During June, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 385,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 295,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 391,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 390,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 185,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 110,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during June totaled 1.95 million head, 3 percent below 2018. Other disappearance totaled 66,000 head during June, 14 percent above 2018. 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 1,756 98 Fed cattle marketed during June ........: 2,006 1,945 97 Other disappearance during June ........: 58 66 114 On feed July 1 .........................: 11,287 11,485 102 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: June 1, 2018 and 2019 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2018 : 2019 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed May 1 ..........................: 11,558 11,818 102 Placed on feed during May ..............: 2,124 2,064 97 Fed cattle marketed during May .........: 2,056 2,070 101 Other disappearance during May .........: 73 72 99 On feed June 1 .........................: 11,553 11,740 102 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: July 1, 2018 and 2019 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :--------------------------------------------------------- : 2018 : 2019 :previous year : inventory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head --- percent percent : Class on feed July 1 : Steers and steer calves ..............: 7,133 7,013 98 61 Heifers and heifer calves ............: 4,154 4,472 108 39 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : July 1, 2019 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : July 1, 2018 : June 1, 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 297 310 300 101 97 California .......: 530 535 535 101 100 Colorado .........: 930 1,060 1,030 111 97 Idaho ............: 240 285 290 121 102 Iowa .............: 710 660 650 92 98 Kansas ...........: 2,240 2,380 2,360 105 99 Minnesota ........: 135 130 125 93 96 Nebraska .........: 2,400 2,430 2,300 96 95 Oklahoma .........: 315 315 320 102 102 South Dakota .....: 215 230 210 98 91 Texas ............: 2,740 2,870 2,840 104 99 Washington .......: 230 240 235 102 98 : Other States .....: 305 295 290 95 98 : United States ....: 11,287 11,740 11,485 102 98 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2019 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2018 : May 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 22 24 17 77 71 California .......: 64 72 61 95 85 Colorado .........: 145 160 135 93 84 Idaho ............: 40 37 42 105 114 Iowa .............: 77 68 65 84 96 Kansas ...........: 405 450 430 106 96 Minnesota ........: 14 16 16 114 100 Nebraska .........: 415 460 415 100 90 Oklahoma .........: 58 73 62 107 85 South Dakota .....: 39 40 31 79 78 Texas ............: 430 575 400 93 70 Washington .......: 46 37 32 70 86 : Other States .....: 43 52 50 116 96 : United States ....: 1,798 2,064 1,756 98 85 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During June 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 30 35 30 25 (D) (D) 145 Kansas ........: 65 90 110 90 50 (D) (D) 405 Nebraska ......: 40 60 80 110 125 (D) (D) 415 Texas .........: 160 110 85 55 20 (D) (D) 430 : Other States ..: 110 55 75 93 70 (D) (D) 403 : United States .: 400 345 385 378 (X) 190 100 1,798 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During May 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 35 45 35 (D) (D) 160 Kansas ........: 50 70 130 125 75 (D) (D) 450 Nebraska ......: 40 45 85 145 145 (D) (D) 460 Texas .........: 145 120 165 115 30 (D) (D) 575 : Other States ..: 110 50 85 109 65 (D) (D) 419 : United States .: 370 305 500 539 (X) 235 115 2,064 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 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 71 90 65 (D) (D) 376 : United States .: 385 295 391 390 (X) 185 110 1,756 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 June 2019 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2018 : May 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 22 26 26 118 100 California .......: 54 63 57 106 90 Colorado .........: 160 150 160 100 107 Idaho ............: 44 35 36 82 103 Iowa .............: 85 85 72 85 85 Kansas ...........: 475 440 440 93 100 Minnesota ........: 23 25 20 87 80 Nebraska .........: 530 570 520 98 91 Oklahoma .........: 57 62 56 98 90 South Dakota .....: 56 49 48 86 98 Texas ............: 410 485 420 102 87 Washington .......: 35 31 36 103 116 : Other States .....: 55 49 54 98 110 : United States ....: 2,006 2,070 1,945 97 94 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2019 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2018 : May 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 5 4 4 80 100 Colorado .........: 5 10 5 100 50 Idaho ............: 1 2 1 100 50 Iowa .............: 2 3 3 150 100 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 15 20 25 167 125 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 3 6 3 100 50 Texas ............: 10 10 10 100 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 3 3 1 33 33 : United States ....: 58 72 66 114 92 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 : Jul 1, : Apr 1, : Jul 1, : Jul 1, : Apr 1, : Jul 1, : 2018 : 2019 : 2019 : 2018 : 2019 : 2019 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ............: 290 305 293 7 9 7 California .........: 470 465 460 60 70 75 Colorado ...........: 520 580 520 410 480 510 Idaho ..............: 170 185 195 70 100 95 Iowa ...............: 520 480 480 190 230 170 Kansas .............: 1,150 1,320 1,240 1,090 1,060 1,120 Minnesota ..........: 108 130 110 27 20 15 Nebraska ...........: 1,580 1,610 1,410 820 970 890 Oklahoma ...........: 180 170 155 135 145 165 South Dakota .......: 130 145 130 85 105 80 Texas ..............: 1,680 1,730 1,700 1,060 1,120 1,140 Washington .........: 145 140 140 85 85 95 : Other States .......: 190 190 180 115 120 110 : United States ......: 7,133 7,450 7,013 4,154 4,514 4,472 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 11.5 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 0 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 0 : Placements ...................: 0.1 0.2 1 0 10 2 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@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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