Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released July 22, 2016, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Up 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 10.4 million head on July 1, 2016. The inventory was 1 percent above July 1, 2015. The inventory included 6.87 million steers and steer calves, down 1 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 66 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.49 million head, up 5 percent from 2015. Placements in feedlots during June totaled 1.53 million head, 3 percent above 2015. Net placements were 1.46 million head. During June, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 290,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 255,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 340,000 head, and 800 pounds and greater were 640,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during June totaled 1.91 million head, 9 percent above 2015. Other disappearance totaled 61,000 head during June, 12 percent below 2015. Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: July 1, 2015 and 2016 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2015 : 2016 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed June 1 .........................: 10,571 10,804 102 Placed on feed during June .............: 1,481 1,525 103 Fed cattle marketed during June ........: 1,747 1,912 109 Other disappearance during June ........: 69 61 88 On feed July 1 .........................: 10,236 10,356 101 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: June 1, 2015 and 2016 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2015 : 2016 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed May 1 ..........................: 10,640 10,783 101 Placed on feed during May ..............: 1,719 1,889 110 Fed cattle marketed during May .........: 1,711 1,794 105 Other disappearance during May .........: 77 74 96 On feed June 1 .........................: 10,571 10,804 102 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: July 1, 2015 and 2016 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :--------------------------------------------------------- : 2015 : 2016 :previous year : inventory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head --- percent percent : Class on feed July 1 : Steers and steer calves ..............: 6,909 6,869 99 66 Heifers and heifer calves ............: 3,327 3,487 105 34 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2015 and 2016 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : July 1, 2016 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : July 1, 2015 : June 1, 2016 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 240 300 286 119 95 California .......: 460 415 425 92 102 Colorado .........: 830 890 850 102 96 Idaho ............: 225 245 235 104 96 Iowa .............: 640 630 610 95 97 Kansas ...........: 1,940 2,160 2,050 106 95 Minnesota ........: 141 154 145 103 94 Nebraska .........: 2,280 2,340 2,180 96 93 Oklahoma .........: 260 320 310 119 97 South Dakota .....: 230 250 235 102 94 Texas ............: 2,480 2,610 2,550 103 98 Washington .......: 215 195 195 91 100 : Other States .....: 295 295 285 97 97 : United States ....: 10,236 10,804 10,356 101 96 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2015 and 2016 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2016 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2015 : May 2016 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 28 19 19 68 100 California .......: 45 54 58 129 107 Colorado .........: 80 135 105 131 78 Idaho ............: 31 41 38 123 93 Iowa .............: 67 64 54 81 84 Kansas ...........: 335 420 350 104 83 Minnesota ........: 17 14 12 71 86 Nebraska .........: 375 405 365 97 90 Oklahoma .........: 38 68 42 111 62 South Dakota .....: 28 29 24 86 83 Texas ............: 375 560 380 101 68 Washington .......: 30 48 41 137 85 : Other States .....: 32 32 37 116 116 : United States ....: 1,481 1,889 1,525 103 81 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2015 and 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During June :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2015 : 2016 : 2015 : 2016 : 2015 : 2016 : 2015 : 2016 : 2015 : 2016 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Colorado .........: 20 15 15 15 15 30 30 45 80 105 Kansas ...........: 60 55 65 65 95 90 115 140 335 350 Nebraska .........: 50 30 50 50 75 70 200 215 375 365 Texas ............: 125 115 80 85 95 90 75 90 375 380 : Other States .....: 95 75 40 40 56 60 125 150 316 325 : United States ....: 350 290 250 255 336 340 545 640 1,481 1,525 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : During May :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2015 : 2016 : 2015 : 2016 : 2015 : 2016 : 2015 : 2016 : 2015 : 2016 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Colorado .........: 30 20 20 20 35 35 55 60 140 135 Kansas ...........: 50 50 55 55 90 120 150 195 345 420 Nebraska .........: 45 40 55 50 75 85 215 230 390 405 Texas ............: 145 115 90 85 125 170 135 190 495 560 : Other States .....: 90 85 40 40 64 69 155 175 349 369 : United States ....: 360 310 260 250 389 479 710 850 1,719 1,889 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2015 and 2016 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2016 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2015 : May 2016 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 25 21 27 108 129 California .......: 40 50 45 113 90 Colorado .........: 125 130 140 112 108 Idaho ............: 40 35 47 118 134 Iowa .............: 76 72 72 95 100 Kansas ...........: 400 400 450 113 113 Minnesota ........: 18 17 20 111 118 Nebraska .........: 480 465 510 106 110 Oklahoma .........: 52 47 51 98 109 South Dakota .....: 26 40 36 138 90 Texas ............: 385 430 430 112 100 Washington .......: 44 46 40 91 87 : Other States .....: 36 41 44 122 107 : United States ....: 1,747 1,794 1,912 109 107 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2015 and 2016 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2016 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2015 : May 2016 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 3 6 600 200 California .......: 5 4 3 60 75 Colorado .........: 15 15 5 33 33 Idaho ............: 1 1 1 100 100 Iowa .............: 1 2 2 200 100 Kansas ...........: 15 10 10 67 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 15 20 15 100 75 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 2 4 3 150 75 Texas ............: 10 10 10 100 100 Washington .......: 1 2 1 100 50 : Other States .....: 1 1 3 300 300 : United States ....: 69 74 61 88 82 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States: 2015 and 2016 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers and steer calves : Heifers and heifer calves :----------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Jul 1, : Apr 1, : Jul 1, : Jul 1, : Apr 1, : Jul 1, : 2015 : 2016 : 2016 : 2015 : 2016 : 2016 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ............: 236 294 280 4 9 6 California .........: 425 400 380 35 20 45 Colorado ...........: 560 610 550 270 290 300 Idaho ..............: 150 165 155 75 75 80 Iowa ...............: 490 460 440 150 180 170 Kansas .............: 1,030 1,200 1,070 910 980 980 Minnesota ..........: 126 139 124 15 21 21 Nebraska ...........: 1,570 1,620 1,430 710 820 750 Oklahoma ...........: 190 185 195 70 110 115 South Dakota .......: 142 153 140 88 112 95 Texas ..............: 1,650 1,800 1,780 830 700 770 Washington .........: 135 125 125 80 70 70 : Other States .......: 205 210 200 90 105 85 : United States ......: 6,909 7,361 6,869 3,327 3,492 3,487 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 0.4 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 10.4 million head by more than 0.4 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.7 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 22,000 head, ranging from 0 to 85,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 6 times and has been below the latest estimate 9 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 ...............: 0.4 0.7 22 0 85 9 6 : Placements ...................: 0.5 0.8 4 0 28 14 1 : Marketings ...................: 0.0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch ........... (202) 720-3570 Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ........... (202) 690-2424 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ...... (202) 720-3240 Doug Bounds - Hogs and Pigs .................. (202) 720-3106 David Colwell - Sheep and Goats .............. (202) 720-8784 Donnie Fike - Dairy Products ................. (202) 690-3236 Michael Klamm - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ....... (202) 720-3040 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 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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