Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released May 20, 2022, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Up 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 12.0 million head on May 1, 2022. The inventory was 2 percent above May 1, 2021. This is the highest May 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. Placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.81 million head, 1 percent below 2021. Net placements were 1.76 million head. During April, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 355,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 270,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 415,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 489,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 210,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 70,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during April totaled 1.89 million head, 2 percent below 2021. Other disappearance totaled 54,000 head during April, 2 percent below 2021. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: May 1, 2021 and 2022 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2021 : 2022 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed April 1 ........................: 11,897 12,105 102 Placed on feed during April ............: 1,825 1,809 99 Fed cattle marketed during April .......: 1,936 1,893 98 Other disappearance during April .......: 55 54 98 On feed May 1 ..........................: 11,731 11,967 102 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: April 1, 2021 and 2022 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2021 : 2022 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed March 1 ........................: 12,000 12,168 101 Placed on feed during March ............: 1,998 1,990 100 Fed cattle marketed during March .......: 2,041 2,000 98 Other disappearance during March .......: 60 53 88 On feed April 1 ........................: 11,897 12,105 102 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : May 1, 2022 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : May 1, 2021 : April 1, 2022 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 276 285 287 104 101 California .......: 545 565 570 105 101 Colorado .........: 1,040 1,100 1,090 105 99 Idaho ............: 295 305 300 102 98 Iowa .............: 630 600 590 94 98 Kansas ...........: 2,470 2,510 2,480 100 99 Minnesota ........: 110 100 100 91 100 Nebraska .........: 2,530 2,660 2,650 105 100 Oklahoma .........: 275 290 275 100 95 South Dakota .....: 235 230 220 94 96 Texas ............: 2,820 2,950 2,900 103 98 Washington .......: 205 205 210 102 102 : Other States .....: 300 305 295 98 97 : United States ....: 11,731 12,105 11,967 102 99 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During April 2022 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : April 2021 : March 2022 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 28 31 29 104 94 California .......: 62 69 74 119 107 Colorado .........: 160 180 165 103 92 Idaho ............: 43 37 35 81 95 Iowa .............: 99 100 85 86 85 Kansas ...........: 435 490 430 99 88 Minnesota ........: 13 15 14 108 93 Nebraska .........: 425 470 440 104 94 Oklahoma .........: 39 45 42 108 93 South Dakota .....: 36 35 27 75 77 Texas ............: 410 435 395 96 91 Washington .......: 31 32 35 113 109 : Other States .....: 44 51 38 86 75 : United States ....: 1,825 1,990 1,809 99 91 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During April 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 35 40 30 (D) (D) 160 Kansas ........: 45 55 130 135 70 (D) (D) 435 Nebraska ......: 30 45 95 145 110 (D) (D) 425 Texas .........: 150 80 85 70 25 (D) (D) 410 : Other States ..: 125 45 75 95 55 (D) (D) 395 : United States .: 380 250 420 485 (X) 220 70 1,825 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During March 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 30 45 45 25 (D) (D) 180 Kansas ........: 45 75 160 150 60 (D) (D) 490 Nebraska ......: 30 65 130 150 95 (D) (D) 470 Texas .........: 150 100 95 70 20 (D) (D) 435 : Other States ..: 115 60 100 100 40 (D) (D) 415 : United States .: 375 330 530 515 (X) 180 60 1,990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During April 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 40 30 (D) (D) 165 Kansas ........: 45 60 125 135 65 (D) (D) 430 Nebraska ......: 30 50 95 155 110 (D) (D) 440 Texas .........: 140 80 85 65 25 (D) (D) 395 : Other States ..: 110 50 75 94 50 (D) (D) 379 : United States .: 355 270 415 489 (X) 210 70 1,809 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 April 2022 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : April 2021 : March 2022 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 23 28 26 113 93 California .......: 65 58 63 97 109 Colorado .........: 175 195 170 97 87 Idaho ............: 37 41 38 103 93 Iowa .............: 96 108 93 97 86 Kansas ...........: 435 480 450 103 94 Minnesota ........: 17 14 13 76 93 Nebraska .........: 465 490 440 95 90 Oklahoma .........: 63 54 56 89 104 South Dakota .....: 38 37 35 92 95 Texas ............: 450 415 435 97 105 Washington .......: 30 31 29 97 94 : Other States .....: 42 49 45 107 92 : United States ....: 1,936 2,000 1,893 98 95 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During April 2022 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : April 2021 : March 2022 : Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 7 6 6 86 100 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 1 1 2 200 200 Iowa .............: 3 2 2 67 100 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 10 10 10 100 100 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 3 3 2 67 67 Texas ............: 10 10 10 100 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 2 2 3 150 150 : United States ....: 55 53 54 98 102 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 12.0 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 0 times 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 ---- : On feed ......................: 0.0 0.0 1 0 6 5 0 : Placements ...................: 0.2 0.4 3 0 15 8 7 : Marketings ...................: 0.2 0.4 2 0 15 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 Logan Hartley-Sanguinett - Sheep and Goats ... (202) 690-3236 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 Suzanne Richards - Dairy Products ............ (202) 720-4448 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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