Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released October 31, 2013, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Down 8 Percent Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.1 million head on October 1, 2013. The inventory was 8 percent below October 1, 2012. The inventory included 6.44 million steers and steer calves, down 7 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 64 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.66 million head, down 8 percent from 2012. Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.03 million, 1 percent above 2012. Net placements were 1.96 million head. During September, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 475,000, 600-699 pounds were 335,000, 700-799 pounds were 480,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 735,000. Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.70 million, 6 percent above 2012. Other disappearance totaled 62,000 during September, 3 percent below 2012. Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: October 1, 2012 and 2013 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2012 : 2013 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed September 1 ....................: 10,647 9,876 93 Placed on feed during September ........: 2,004 2,025 101 Fed cattle marketed during September ...: 1,598 1,695 106 Other disappearance during September ...: 64 62 97 On feed October 1 ......................: 10,989 10,144 92 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: September 1, 2012 and 2013 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2012 : 2013 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed August 1 .......................: 10,656 10,026 94 Placed on feed during August ...........: 2,007 1,788 89 Fed cattle marketed during August ......: 1,955 1,883 96 Other disappearance during August ......: 61 55 90 On feed September 1 ....................: 10,647 9,876 93 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: October 1, 2012 and 2013 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2012 : 2013 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head --- percent : Class on Feed October 1 : Steers and Steer Calves ..............: 6,960 6,442 93 Heifers and Heifer Calves ............: 3,967 3,662 92 Cows and Bulls .......................: 62 40 65 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2012 and 2013 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : October 1, 2013 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : October 1, 2012 :September 1, 2013: : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 272 266 268 99 101 California .......: 475 505 500 105 99 Colorado .........: 1,000 830 870 87 105 Idaho ............: 230 190 210 91 111 Iowa .............: 590 550 560 95 102 Kansas ...........: 2,230 1,980 2,000 90 101 Nebraska .........: 2,330 2,090 2,210 95 106 Oklahoma .........: 335 280 285 85 102 South Dakota .....: 195 170 180 92 106 Texas ............: 2,680 2,430 2,460 92 101 Washington .......: 213 184 184 86 100 : Other States .....: 439 401 417 95 104 : United States ....: 10,989 9,876 10,144 92 103 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2012 and 2013 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During September 2013 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :September 2012: August 2013 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 20 23 23 115 100 California .......: 50 55 50 100 91 Colorado .........: 225 145 190 84 131 Idaho ............: 61 52 62 102 119 Iowa .............: 89 66 101 113 153 Kansas ...........: 375 385 390 104 101 Nebraska .........: 470 440 520 111 118 Oklahoma .........: 57 47 67 118 143 South Dakota .....: 50 29 43 86 148 Texas ............: 480 450 480 100 107 Washington .......: 46 43 37 80 86 : Other States .....: 81 53 62 77 117 : United States ....: 2,004 1,788 2,025 101 113 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2012 and 2013 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During September :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Colorado .........: 40 35 20 20 55 50 110 85 225 190 Kansas ...........: 80 70 85 85 105 120 105 115 375 390 Nebraska .........: 90 75 60 70 100 105 220 270 470 520 Texas ............: 185 185 130 110 100 115 65 70 480 480 : Other States .....: 120 110 60 50 84 90 190 195 454 445 : United States ....: 515 475 355 335 444 480 690 735 2,004 2,025 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : During August :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Colorado .........: 30 25 25 20 50 45 85 55 190 145 Kansas ...........: 80 65 105 85 120 115 130 120 435 385 Nebraska .........: 70 55 75 65 120 100 205 220 470 440 Texas ............: 200 175 120 120 110 100 65 55 495 450 : Other States .....: 102 85 60 48 75 70 180 165 417 368 : United States ....: 482 405 385 338 475 430 665 615 2,007 1,788 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2012 and 2013 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During September 2013 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :September 2012: August 2013 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 18 18 20 111 111 California .......: 52 60 53 102 88 Colorado .........: 150 180 145 97 81 Idaho ............: 35 46 41 117 89 Iowa .............: 87 73 89 102 122 Kansas ...........: 310 395 355 115 90 Nebraska .........: 370 420 390 105 93 Oklahoma .........: 45 51 60 133 118 South Dakota .....: 39 38 32 82 84 Texas ............: 400 495 430 108 87 Washington .......: 40 47 36 90 77 : Other States .....: 52 60 44 85 73 : United States ....: 1,598 1,883 1,695 106 90 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2012 and 2013 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During September 2013 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :September 2012: August 2013 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 3 5 2 67 40 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 1 1 1 100 100 Iowa .............: 2 3 2 100 67 Kansas ...........: 15 10 15 100 150 Nebraska .........: 10 10 10 100 100 Oklahoma .........: 2 1 2 100 200 South Dakota .....: 1 1 1 100 100 Texas ............: 20 15 20 100 133 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 3 2 2 67 100 : United States ....: 64 55 62 97 113 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States: 2012 and 2013 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Steers and steer calves :Heifers and heifer calves : Cows and bulls :----------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Oct 1, : Jul 1, : Oct 1, : Oct 1, : Jul 1, : Oct 1, :Oct 1, :Jul 1, :Oct 1, : 2012 : 2013 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 : 2013 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : 1,000 Head : Arizona ..........: 268 262 261 4 5 7 0 0 0 California .......: 410 445 455 65 68 44 0 2 1 Colorado .........: 670 590 560 325 325 305 5 5 5 Idaho ............: 137 102 115 89 92 90 4 1 5 Iowa .............: 415 430 355 175 150 205 0 0 0 Kansas ...........: 1,200 1,070 1,060 1,025 930 935 5 10 5 Nebraska .........: 1,400 1,355 1,390 900 810 810 30 15 10 Oklahoma .........: 225 200 190 110 105 95 0 0 0 South Dakota .....: 108 105 104 75 71 67 12 24 9 Texas ............: 1,690 1,560 1,540 989 999 919 1 1 1 Washington .......: 137 104 109 74 96 72 2 3 3 : Other States .....: 300 304 303 136 128 113 3 1 1 : United States ....: 6,960 6,527 6,442 3,967 3,779 3,662 62 62 40 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Terms and Definitions of Cattle on Feed Estimates Cattle on feed are animals 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 cattle 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 cattle 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. Reliability of Cattle on Feed Estimates 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 11 of the 16 States. Data collected from the remaining 5 States are used to establish the "Other States" estimates. These 5 States include Illinois, Minnesota, 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 0.1 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 10.1 million head by more than 0.1 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.2 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 5,000 head, ranging from 0 to 35,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 4 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 ...............: 0.1 0.2 5 0 35 3 4 : Placements ...................: 0.3 0.4 2 0 20 4 3 : Marketings ...................: 0.2 0.4 1 0 20 3 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Travis Averill - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ...... (202) 720-3040 Doug Bounds - Hogs and Pigs .................. (202) 720-3106 Alissa Cowell-Mytar - Sheep and Goats ........ (202) 720-4751 Donnie Fike - Dairy Products ................. (202) 690-3236 Tiffany Hora - Livestock Slaughter ........... (515) 284-4340 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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