Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released July 20, 2018, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Up 4 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 11.3 million head on July 1, 2018. The inventory was 4 percent above July 1, 2017. This is the highest July 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. The inventory included 7.13 million steers and steer calves, up 2 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 63 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.15 million head, up 8 percent from 2017. Placements in feedlots during June totaled 1.79 million head, 1 percent above 2017. Net placements were 1.74 million head. During June, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 400,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 345,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 385,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 378,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 185,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 100,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during June totaled 2.01 million head, 1 percent above 2017. Other disappearance totaled 58,000 head during June, 4 percent above 2017. United States All Cattle on Feed Up 4 Percent Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for all feedlots totaled 13.3 million head on July 1, 2018. The inventory was up 4 percent from the July 1, 2017 total of 12.8 million head. Cattle on feed in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head accounted for 84.8 percent of the total cattle on feed on July 1, 2018, up slightly from the previous year. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: July 1, 2017 and 2018 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2017 : 2018 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed June 1 .........................: 11,096 11,553 104 Placed on feed during June .............: 1,770 1,793 101 Fed cattle marketed during June ........: 1,989 2,006 101 Other disappearance during June ........: 56 58 104 On feed July 1 .........................: 10,821 11,282 104 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: June 1, 2017 and 2018 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2017 : 2018 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed May 1 ..........................: 10,998 11,558 105 Placed on feed during May ..............: 2,119 2,124 100 Fed cattle marketed during May .........: 1,951 2,056 105 Other disappearance during May .........: 70 73 104 On feed June 1 .........................: 11,096 11,553 104 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: July 1, 2017 and 2018 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :--------------------------------------------------------- : 2017 : 2018 :previous year : inventory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head --- percent percent : Class on feed July 1 : Steers and steer calves ..............: 6,964 7,128 102 63 Heifers and heifer calves ............: 3,857 4,154 108 37 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All Cattle on Feed - United States: July 1, 2017 and 2018 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of State :---------------------------: : 2017 : 2018 :previous year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head ---- percent : United States .......................: 12,800 13,300 104 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2017 and 2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : July 1, 2018 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : July 1, 2017 : June 1, 2018 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 246 298 297 121 100 California .......: 440 525 530 120 101 Colorado .........: 930 950 930 100 98 Idaho ............: 260 245 235 90 96 Iowa .............: 670 720 710 106 99 Kansas ...........: 2,190 2,320 2,240 102 97 Minnesota ........: 140 145 135 96 93 Nebraska .........: 2,230 2,530 2,400 108 95 Oklahoma .........: 325 315 315 97 100 South Dakota .....: 225 235 215 96 91 Texas ............: 2,670 2,730 2,740 103 100 Washington .......: 205 220 230 112 105 : Other States .....: 290 320 305 105 95 : United States ....: 10,821 11,553 11,282 104 98 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2017 and 2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2018 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2017 : May 2018 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 22 22 22 100 100 California .......: 56 88 64 114 73 Colorado .........: 125 170 145 116 85 Idaho ............: 35 36 38 109 106 Iowa .............: 72 80 77 107 96 Kansas ...........: 395 480 405 103 84 Minnesota ........: 15 16 14 93 88 Nebraska .........: 425 465 415 98 89 Oklahoma .........: 51 70 58 114 83 South Dakota .....: 40 29 39 98 134 Texas ............: 450 570 430 96 75 Washington .......: 40 42 46 115 110 : Other States .....: 44 56 40 91 71 : United States ....: 1,770 2,124 1,793 101 84 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2017 and 2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During June 2017 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 35 20 20 (D) (D) 125 Kansas ........: 65 80 110 95 45 (D) (D) 395 Nebraska ......: 35 55 105 110 120 (D) (D) 425 Texas .........: 155 105 105 65 20 (D) (D) 450 : Other States ..: 95 50 75 95 60 (D) (D) 375 : United States .: 375 315 430 385 (X) 170 95 1,770 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During May 2018 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 25 35 45 40 (D) (D) 170 Kansas ........: 60 85 135 125 75 (D) (D) 480 Nebraska ......: 45 55 95 140 130 (D) (D) 465 Texas .........: 185 120 130 105 30 (D) (D) 570 : Other States ..: 130 55 85 109 60 (D) (D) 439 : United States .: 445 340 480 524 (X) 235 100 2,124 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During June 2018 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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 65 (D) (D) 398 : United States .: 400 345 385 378 (X) 185 100 1,793 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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: 2017 and 2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2018 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2017 : May 2018 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 21 21 22 105 105 California .......: 52 60 54 104 90 Colorado .........: 160 150 160 100 107 Idaho ............: 43 45 47 109 104 Iowa .............: 80 87 85 106 98 Kansas ...........: 465 440 475 102 108 Minnesota ........: 19 25 23 121 92 Nebraska .........: 530 570 530 100 93 Oklahoma .........: 55 64 57 104 89 South Dakota .....: 53 45 56 106 124 Texas ............: 420 460 410 98 89 Washington .......: 39 31 35 90 113 : Other States .....: 52 58 52 100 90 : United States ....: 1,989 2,056 2,006 101 98 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2017 and 2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2018 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2017 : May 2018 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 4 3 5 125 167 Colorado .........: 5 10 5 100 50 Idaho ............: 2 1 1 50 100 Iowa .............: 2 3 2 100 67 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 15 25 15 100 60 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 2 4 3 150 75 Texas ............: 10 10 10 100 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 2 3 3 150 100 : United States ....: 56 73 58 104 79 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States: 2017 and 2018 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers and steer calves : Heifers and heifer calves :----------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Jul 1, : Apr 1, : Jul 1, : Jul 1, : Apr 1, : Jul 1, : 2017 : 2018 : 2018 : 2017 : 2018 : 2018 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ............: 239 284 290 7 10 7 California .........: 410 450 470 30 50 60 Colorado ...........: 575 535 520 355 415 410 Idaho ..............: 180 170 165 80 80 70 Iowa ...............: 510 540 520 160 200 190 Kansas .............: 1,120 1,240 1,150 1,070 1,100 1,090 Minnesota ..........: 120 131 108 20 29 27 Nebraska ...........: 1,440 1,760 1,580 790 930 820 Oklahoma ...........: 190 165 180 135 145 135 South Dakota .......: 135 150 130 90 110 85 Texas ..............: 1,730 1,760 1,680 940 940 1,060 Washington .........: 125 140 145 80 70 85 : Other States .......: 190 210 190 100 115 115 : United States ......: 6,964 7,535 7,128 3,857 4,194 4,154 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 11.3 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 1 time and has been below the latest estimate 1 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 1 1 : Placements ...................: 0.2 0.4 1 0 15 1 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. 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) 690-3236 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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