Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released November 18, 2022, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Down 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 11.7 million head on November 1, 2022. The inventory was 2 percent below November 1, 2021. Placements in feedlots during October totaled 2.11 million head, 6 percent below 2021. Placements were the lowest for October since the series began in 1996. Net placements were 2.05 million head. During October, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 545,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 465,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 450,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 378,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 190,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 80,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during October totaled 1.80 million head, 1 percent above 2021. Other disappearance totaled 54,000 head during October, 5 percent below 2021. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: November 1, 2021 and 2022 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2021 : 2022 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed October 1 ......................: 11,550 11,454 99 Placed on feed during October ..........: 2,246 2,108 94 Fed cattle marketed during October .....: 1,791 1,802 101 Other disappearance during October .....: 57 54 95 On feed November 1 .....................: 11,948 11,706 98 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 2,085 96 Fed cattle marketed during September ...: 1,789 1,860 104 Other disappearance during September ...: 58 53 91 On feed October 1 ......................: 11,550 11,454 99 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : November 1, 2022 : : :-------------------------------------------- State :November 1, 2021 : October 1, 2022 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 273 274 271 99 99 California .......: 545 510 505 93 99 Colorado .........: 1,150 1,070 1,070 93 100 Idaho ............: 310 290 305 98 105 Iowa .............: 610 600 620 102 103 Kansas ...........: 2,510 2,360 2,340 93 99 Minnesota ........: 105 85 95 90 112 Nebraska .........: 2,560 2,470 2,600 102 105 Oklahoma .........: 300 285 290 97 102 South Dakota .....: 230 185 210 91 114 Texas ............: 2,850 2,820 2,860 100 101 Washington .......: 205 210 230 112 110 : Other States .....: 300 295 310 103 105 : United States ....: 11,948 11,454 11,706 98 102 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During October 2022 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : October 2021 :September 2022: : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 24 19 19 79 100 California .......: 52 45 44 85 98 Colorado .........: 185 210 175 95 83 Idaho ............: 50 61 62 124 102 Iowa .............: 115 85 103 90 121 Kansas ...........: 435 445 420 97 94 Minnesota ........: 29 14 24 83 171 Nebraska .........: 625 590 590 94 100 Oklahoma .........: 49 52 44 90 85 South Dakota .....: 76 45 72 95 160 Texas ............: 510 410 440 86 107 Washington .......: 33 45 55 167 122 : Other States .....: 63 64 60 95 94 : United States ....: 2,246 2,085 2,108 94 101 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During October 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 ......: 35 35 35 45 35 (D) (D) 185 Kansas ........: 65 95 135 95 45 (D) (D) 435 Nebraska ......: 145 130 95 130 125 (D) (D) 625 Texas .........: 170 130 125 70 15 (D) (D) 510 : Other States ..: 160 110 80 86 55 (D) (D) 491 : United States .: 575 500 470 426 (X) 190 85 2,246 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 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 75 110 80 (D) (D) 430 : United States .: 445 330 440 485 (X) 290 95 2,085 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During October 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 35 40 30 (D) (D) 175 Kansas ........: 65 95 130 85 45 (D) (D) 420 Nebraska ......: 135 120 95 115 125 (D) (D) 590 Texas .........: 150 110 110 55 15 (D) (D) 440 : Other States ..: 160 105 80 83 55 (D) (D) 483 : United States .: 545 465 450 378 (X) 190 80 2,108 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 October 2022 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : October 2021 :September 2022: : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 20 21 21 105 100 California .......: 40 48 42 105 88 Colorado .........: 160 165 170 106 103 Idaho ............: 44 44 45 102 102 Iowa .............: 103 73 81 79 111 Kansas ...........: 445 455 430 97 95 Minnesota ........: 13 18 13 100 72 Nebraska .........: 435 480 450 103 94 Oklahoma .........: 43 45 38 88 84 South Dakota .....: 45 34 45 100 132 Texas ............: 375 400 390 104 98 Washington .......: 27 34 34 126 100 : Other States .....: 41 43 43 105 100 : United States ....: 1,791 1,860 1,802 101 97 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During October 2022 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : October 2021 :September 2022: Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 7 7 7 100 100 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 1 2 2 200 100 Iowa .............: 2 2 2 100 100 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 10 10 10 100 100 Oklahoma .........: 1 2 1 100 50 South Dakota .....: 1 1 2 200 200 Texas ............: 15 10 10 67 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 2 1 2 100 200 : United States ....: 57 53 54 95 102 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 0.0 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 2,000 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 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 0.0 2 0 6 7 1 : Placements ...................: 0.2 0.3 3 0 7 9 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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