Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released January 20, 2023, 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 January 1, 2023. The inventory was 3 percent below January 1, 2022. The inventory included 7.03 million steers and steer calves, down 4 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 60 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.65 million head, down 1 percent from 2022. Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.80 million head, 8 percent below 2021. Net placements were 1.75 million head. During December, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 455,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 435,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 415,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 304,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 105,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 90,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during December totaled 1.74 million head, 6 percent below 2021. Other disappearance totaled 54,000 head during December, unchanged from 2021. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: January 1, 2022 and 2023 [December preceding year] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2022 : 2023 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed December 1 .....................: 11,985 11,673 97 Placed on feed during December .........: 1,960 1,804 92 Fed cattle marketed during December ....: 1,854 1,741 94 Other disappearance during December ....: 54 54 100 On feed January 1 ......................: 12,037 11,682 97 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: January 1, 2022 and 2023 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : : :----------------------------- : 2022 : 2023 :previous year : inventory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head --- percent percent : Class on feed January 1 ................: Steers and steer calves ..............: 7,362 7,032 96 60 Heifers and heifer calves ............: 4,675 4,650 99 40 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2022 and 2023 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : January 1, 2023 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : January 1, 2022 :December 1, 2022 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 272 268 267 98 100 California .......: 555 505 515 93 102 Colorado .........: 1,130 1,040 1,040 92 100 Idaho ............: 310 315 320 103 102 Iowa .............: 600 630 620 103 98 Kansas ...........: 2,490 2,330 2,390 96 103 Minnesota ........: 100 95 95 95 100 Nebraska .........: 2,600 2,610 2,600 100 100 Oklahoma .........: 310 280 275 89 98 South Dakota .....: 230 220 210 91 95 Texas ............: 2,920 2,810 2,770 95 99 Washington .......: 210 250 265 126 106 : Other States .....: 310 320 315 102 98 : United States ....: 12,037 11,673 11,682 97 100 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During December 2022 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :December 2021 :November 2022 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 30 23 24 80 104 California .......: 66 60 69 105 115 Colorado .........: 165 145 145 88 100 Idaho ............: 41 53 46 112 87 Iowa .............: 85 105 84 99 80 Kansas ...........: 450 420 440 98 105 Minnesota ........: 11 17 13 118 76 Nebraska .........: 505 505 470 93 93 Oklahoma .........: 46 38 35 76 92 South Dakota .....: 43 75 34 79 45 Texas ............: 445 370 350 79 95 Washington .......: 30 56 52 173 93 : Other States .....: 43 58 42 98 72 : United States ....: 1,960 1,925 1,804 92 94 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During December 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 ......: 40 40 35 30 20 (D) (D) 165 Kansas ........: 65 105 145 90 45 (D) (D) 450 Nebraska ......: 55 125 120 110 95 (D) (D) 505 Texas .........: 200 110 80 45 10 (D) (D) 445 : Other States ..: 150 90 70 55 30 (D) (D) 395 : United States .: 510 470 450 330 (X) 105 95 1,960 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During December 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 30 25 20 (D) (D) 145 Kansas ........: 60 110 140 85 45 (D) (D) 440 Nebraska ......: 50 115 115 100 90 (D) (D) 470 Texas .........: 160 85 60 35 10 (D) (D) 350 : Other States ..: 150 90 70 59 30 (D) (D) 399 : United States .: 455 435 415 304 (X) 105 90 1,804 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 December 2022 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :December 2021 :November 2022 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 27 25 24 89 96 California .......: 56 53 53 95 100 Colorado .........: 170 170 140 82 82 Idaho ............: 40 42 40 100 95 Iowa .............: 92 94 92 100 98 Kansas ...........: 430 410 370 86 90 Minnesota ........: 15 16 12 80 75 Nebraska .........: 475 480 470 99 98 Oklahoma .........: 34 47 39 115 83 South Dakota .....: 45 63 40 89 63 Texas ............: 395 410 380 96 93 Washington .......: 29 35 36 124 103 : Other States .....: 46 46 45 98 98 : United States ....: 1,854 1,891 1,741 94 92 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During December 2022 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :December 2021 :November 2022 : Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 5 7 6 120 86 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 1 1 1 100 100 Iowa .............: 3 1 2 67 200 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 10 15 10 100 67 Oklahoma .........: 2 1 1 50 100 South Dakota .....: 3 2 4 133 200 Texas ............: 10 10 10 100 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 2 2 2 100 100 : United States ....: 54 57 54 100 95 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States: 2022 and 2023 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers and steer calves : Heifers and heifer calves :----------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Jan 1, : Oct 1, : Jan 1, : Jan 1, : Oct 1, : Jan 1, : 2022 : 2022 : 2023 : 2022 : 2022 : 2023 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ............: 267 264 257 5 10 10 California .........: 470 435 435 85 75 80 Colorado ...........: 635 590 580 495 480 460 Idaho ..............: 160 155 165 150 135 155 Iowa ...............: 450 465 465 150 135 155 Kansas .............: 1,340 1,270 1,270 1,150 1,090 1,120 Minnesota ..........: 85 70 80 15 15 15 Nebraska ...........: 1,590 1,490 1,600 1,010 980 1,000 Oklahoma ...........: 165 155 150 145 130 125 South Dakota .......: 135 105 125 95 80 85 Texas ..............: 1,760 1,610 1,560 1,160 1,210 1,210 Washington .........: 110 110 150 100 100 115 : Other States .......: 195 185 195 115 110 120 : United States ......: 7,362 6,904 7,032 4,675 4,550 4,650 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 9 : Marketings ...................: 0.1 0.2 1 0 7 5 7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Suzanne Richards - Sheep and Goats ......................................................... 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