Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released November 17, 2017, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Up 6 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 November 1, 2017. The inventory was 6 percent above November 1, 2016. Placements in feedlots during October totaled 2.39 million head, 10 percent above 2016. Net placements were 2.32 million head. During October, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 675,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 590,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 510,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 368,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 160,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 90,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during October totaled 1.80 million head, 6 percent above 2016. Other disappearance totaled 73,000 head during October, 28 percent above 2016. Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: November 1, 2016 and 2017 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2016 : 2017 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed October 1 ......................: 10,256 10,813 105 Placed on feed during October ..........: 2,171 2,393 110 Fed cattle marketed during October .....: 1,705 1,801 106 Other disappearance during October .....: 57 73 128 On feed November 1 .....................: 10,665 11,332 106 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: October 1, 2016 and 2017 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2016 : 2017 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed September 1 ....................: 10,135 10,504 104 Placed on feed during September ........: 1,895 2,150 113 Fed cattle marketed during September ...: 1,732 1,783 103 Other disappearance during September ...: 42 58 138 On feed October 1 ......................: 10,256 10,813 105 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : November 1, 2017 : : :-------------------------------------------- State :November 1, 2016 : October 1, 2017 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 253 248 252 100 102 California .......: 420 430 440 105 102 Colorado .........: 910 940 980 108 104 Idaho ............: 250 245 255 102 104 Iowa .............: 600 650 690 115 106 Kansas ...........: 2,240 2,250 2,290 102 102 Minnesota ........: 142 120 150 106 125 Nebraska .........: 2,320 2,290 2,520 109 110 Oklahoma .........: 295 320 320 108 100 South Dakota .....: 240 220 260 108 118 Texas ............: 2,490 2,600 2,640 106 102 Washington .......: 195 200 210 108 105 : Other States .....: 310 300 325 105 108 : United States ....: 10,665 10,813 11,332 106 105 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During October 2017 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : October 2016 :September 2017: : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 14 20 25 179 125 California .......: 46 56 63 137 113 Colorado .........: 205 250 195 95 78 Idaho ............: 50 55 58 116 105 Iowa .............: 129 106 142 110 134 Kansas ...........: 390 435 430 110 99 Minnesota ........: 39 26 43 110 165 Nebraska .........: 615 570 680 111 119 Oklahoma .........: 63 63 59 94 94 South Dakota .....: 71 48 87 123 181 Texas ............: 445 440 505 113 115 Washington .......: 50 34 50 100 147 : Other States .....: 54 47 56 104 119 : United States ....: 2,171 2,150 2,393 110 111 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During October 2016 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ......: 55 45 35 40 30 (D) (D) 205 Kansas ........: 65 95 115 80 35 (D) (D) 390 Nebraska ......: 200 145 95 90 85 (D) (D) 615 Texas .........: 105 115 145 65 15 (D) (D) 445 : Other States ..: 185 125 81 70 55 (D) (D) 516 : United States .: 610 525 471 345 (X) 145 75 2,171 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During September 2017 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 75 70 (D) (D) 250 Kansas ........: 60 90 130 105 50 (D) (D) 435 Nebraska ......: 55 60 110 160 185 (D) (D) 570 Texas .........: 140 110 120 60 10 (D) (D) 440 : Other States ..: 120 55 80 115 85 (D) (D) 455 : United States .: 405 340 490 515 (X) 285 115 2,150 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During October 2017 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ......: 55 40 35 35 30 (D) (D) 195 Kansas ........: 70 95 130 90 45 (D) (D) 430 Nebraska ......: 190 175 110 100 105 (D) (D) 680 Texas .........: 140 135 145 70 15 (D) (D) 505 : Other States ..: 220 145 90 73 55 (D) (D) 583 : United States .: 675 590 510 368 (X) 160 90 2,393 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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. Number of Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During October 2017 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : October 2016 :September 2017: : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 23 15 20 87 133 California .......: 39 44 49 126 111 Colorado .........: 140 165 150 107 91 Idaho ............: 39 48 46 118 96 Iowa .............: 96 95 99 103 104 Kansas ...........: 350 390 375 107 96 Minnesota ........: 14 25 12 86 48 Nebraska .........: 445 420 435 98 104 Oklahoma .........: 57 56 57 100 102 South Dakota .....: 40 42 45 113 107 Texas ............: 395 415 445 113 107 Washington .......: 39 33 38 97 115 : Other States .....: 28 35 30 107 86 : United States ....: 1,705 1,783 1,801 106 101 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During October 2017 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : October 2016 :September 2017: : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 2 2 4 200 200 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 1 2 2 200 100 Iowa .............: 3 1 3 100 300 Kansas ...........: 20 15 15 75 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 10 10 15 150 150 Oklahoma .........: 1 2 2 200 100 South Dakota .....: 1 1 2 200 200 Texas ............: 10 15 20 200 133 Washington .......: 1 1 2 200 200 : Other States .....: 1 2 1 100 50 : United States ....: 57 58 73 128 126 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 2,000 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 5 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 2 0 15 5 1 : Placements ...................: 0.2 0.4 2 0 15 5 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) 720-3240 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 Vacant - Sheep and Goats ..................... (202) 720-8784 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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