Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released October 21, 2022, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Down 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 11.4 million head on October 1, 2022. The inventory was 1 percent below October 1, 2021. The inventory included 6.90 million steers and steer calves, down 2 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 60 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.55 million head, up 1 percent from 2021. Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.08 million head, 4 percent below 2021. Net placements were 2.03 million head. During September, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 445,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 330,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 440,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 480,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 290,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 95,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.86 million head, 4 percent above 2021. Other disappearance totaled 53,000 head during September, 9 percent below 2021. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: October 1, 2021 and 2022 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2021 : 2022 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed September 1 ....................: 11,234 11,282 100 Placed on feed during September ........: 2,163 2,080 96 Fed cattle marketed during September ...: 1,789 1,860 104 Other disappearance during September ...: 58 53 91 On feed October 1 ......................: 11,550 11,449 99 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: September 1, 2021 and 2022 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2021 : 2022 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed August 1 .......................: 11,074 11,224 101 Placed on feed during August ...........: 2,103 2,115 101 Fed cattle marketed during August ......: 1,884 2,004 106 Other disappearance during August ......: 59 53 90 On feed September 1 ....................: 11,234 11,282 100 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: October 1, 2021 and 2022 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : : :----------------------------- : 2021 : 2022 :previous year : inventory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head --- percent percent : Class on feed October 1 ................: Steers and steer calves ..............: 7,065 6,899 98 60 Heifers and heifer calves ............: 4,485 4,550 101 40 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : October 1, 2022 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : October 1, 2021 :September 1, 2022: : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 270 277 274 101 99 California .......: 540 520 510 94 98 Colorado .........: 1,130 1,030 1,070 95 104 Idaho ............: 305 275 290 95 105 Iowa .............: 600 590 600 100 102 Kansas ...........: 2,530 2,380 2,360 93 99 Minnesota ........: 90 90 85 94 94 Nebraska .........: 2,380 2,370 2,470 104 104 Oklahoma .........: 295 280 285 97 102 South Dakota .....: 200 175 185 93 106 Texas ............: 2,730 2,820 2,820 103 100 Washington .......: 200 200 205 103 103 : Other States .....: 280 275 295 105 107 : United States ....: 11,550 11,282 11,449 99 101 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During September 2022 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :September 2021: August 2022 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 21 22 19 90 86 California .......: 63 51 46 73 90 Colorado .........: 220 180 210 95 117 Idaho ............: 57 45 62 109 138 Iowa .............: 80 89 85 106 96 Kansas ...........: 505 535 445 88 83 Minnesota ........: 19 18 14 74 78 Nebraska .........: 545 570 590 108 104 Oklahoma .........: 68 49 52 76 106 South Dakota .....: 44 43 45 102 105 Texas ............: 450 430 410 91 95 Washington .......: 35 32 38 109 119 : Other States .....: 56 51 64 114 125 : United States ....: 2,163 2,115 2,080 96 98 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During September 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 ......: 30 25 50 60 55 (D) (D) 220 Kansas ........: 65 100 165 120 55 (D) (D) 505 Nebraska ......: 55 55 100 160 175 (D) (D) 545 Texas .........: 165 130 100 45 10 (D) (D) 450 : Other States ..: 120 50 80 113 80 (D) (D) 443 : United States .: 435 360 495 498 (X) 275 100 2,163 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During August 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 ......: 30 30 35 50 35 (D) (D) 180 Kansas ........: 65 100 170 135 65 (D) (D) 535 Nebraska ......: 45 50 110 190 175 (D) (D) 570 Texas .........: 190 100 80 50 10 (D) (D) 430 : Other States ..: 100 40 70 110 80 (D) (D) 400 : United States .: 430 320 465 535 (X) 270 95 2,115 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During September 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 ......: 30 25 45 60 50 (D) (D) 210 Kansas ........: 65 95 130 100 55 (D) (D) 445 Nebraska ......: 65 60 105 170 190 (D) (D) 590 Texas .........: 165 105 85 45 10 (D) (D) 410 : Other States ..: 120 45 75 105 80 (D) (D) 425 : United States .: 445 330 440 480 (X) 290 95 2,080 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 September 2022 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :September 2021: August 2022 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 19 23 21 111 91 California .......: 45 69 49 109 71 Colorado .........: 165 185 165 100 89 Idaho ............: 41 44 45 110 102 Iowa .............: 67 78 73 109 94 Kansas ...........: 435 485 455 105 94 Minnesota ........: 18 12 18 100 150 Nebraska .........: 435 510 480 110 94 Oklahoma .........: 47 42 45 96 107 South Dakota .....: 43 31 34 79 110 Texas ............: 405 450 400 99 89 Washington .......: 29 31 32 110 103 : Other States .....: 40 44 43 108 98 : United States ....: 1,789 2,004 1,860 104 93 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During September 2022 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :September 2021: August 2022 : Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 8 7 7 88 100 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 1 1 2 200 200 Iowa .............: 3 1 2 67 200 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 10 10 10 100 100 Oklahoma .........: 1 2 2 200 100 South Dakota .....: 1 2 1 100 50 Texas ............: 15 10 10 67 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 1 2 1 100 50 : United States ....: 58 53 53 91 100 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers and steer calves : Heifers and heifer calves :----------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Oct 1, : Jul 1, : Oct 1, : Oct 1, : Jul 1, : Oct 1, : 2021 : 2022 : 2022 : 2021 : 2022 : 2022 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ............: 265 275 264 5 5 10 California .........: 460 465 435 80 95 75 Colorado ...........: 640 570 590 490 490 480 Idaho ..............: 165 150 155 140 130 135 Iowa ...............: 460 445 465 140 135 135 Kansas .............: 1,380 1,230 1,270 1,150 1,120 1,090 Minnesota ..........: 75 75 70 15 15 15 Nebraska ...........: 1,400 1,480 1,490 980 890 980 Oklahoma ...........: 160 145 155 135 125 130 South Dakota .......: 120 105 105 80 65 80 Texas ..............: 1,660 1,680 1,610 1,070 1,180 1,210 Washington .........: 100 100 105 100 100 100 : Other States .......: 180 175 185 100 95 110 : United States ......: 7,065 6,895 6,899 4,485 4,445 4,550 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 11.4 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 6,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 1 time and has been below the latest estimate 6 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 0.0 1 0 6 6 1 : Placements ...................: 0.2 0.3 2 0 7 8 9 : Marketings ...................: 0.1 0.2 1 0 7 4 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 ......................................................... 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