Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released December 20, 2019, 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 December 1, 2019. The inventory was 2 percent above December 1, 2018. Placements in feedlots during November totaled 2.09 million head, 5 percent above 2018. Net placements were 2.03 million head. During November, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 620,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 500,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 423,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 310,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 130,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 110,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during November totaled 1.81 million head, 3 percent below 2018. Other disappearance totaled 65,000 head during November, 19 percent below 2018. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: December 1, 2018 and 2019 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2018 : 2019 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed November 1 .....................: 11,692 11,816 101 Placed on feed during November .........: 1,996 2,093 105 Fed cattle marketed during November ....: 1,869 1,813 97 Other disappearance during November ....: 80 65 81 On feed December 1 .....................: 11,739 12,031 102 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: November 1, 2018 and 2019 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2018 : 2019 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed October 1 ......................: 11,400 11,288 99 Placed on feed during October ..........: 2,248 2,462 110 Fed cattle marketed during October .....: 1,887 1,875 99 Other disappearance during October .....: 69 59 86 On feed November 1 .....................: 11,692 11,816 101 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : December 1, 2019 : : :-------------------------------------------- State :December 1, 2018 :November 1, 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 289 256 256 89 100 California .......: 535 540 550 103 102 Colorado .........: 1,010 1,070 1,100 109 103 Idaho ............: 285 290 300 105 103 Iowa .............: 700 660 690 99 105 Kansas ...........: 2,360 2,420 2,430 103 100 Minnesota ........: 160 130 140 88 108 Nebraska .........: 2,600 2,450 2,480 95 101 Oklahoma .........: 325 325 325 100 100 South Dakota .....: 240 240 250 104 104 Texas ............: 2,680 2,870 2,930 109 102 Washington .......: 235 235 240 102 102 : Other States .....: 320 330 340 106 103 : United States ....: 11,739 11,816 12,031 102 102 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During November 2019 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :November 2018 : October 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 30 25 27 90 108 California .......: 72 75 64 89 85 Colorado .........: 140 240 185 132 77 Idaho ............: 59 63 56 95 89 Iowa .............: 106 114 110 104 96 Kansas ...........: 400 450 415 104 92 Minnesota ........: 25 39 25 100 64 Nebraska .........: 520 670 520 100 78 Oklahoma .........: 52 61 58 112 95 South Dakota .....: 47 77 75 160 97 Texas ............: 450 530 465 103 88 Washington .......: 40 51 42 105 82 : Other States .....: 55 67 51 93 76 : United States ....: 1,996 2,462 2,093 105 85 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During November 2018 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ......: 45 40 25 20 10 (D) (D) 140 Kansas ........: 55 100 120 80 45 (D) (D) 400 Nebraska ......: 100 125 95 90 110 (D) (D) 520 Texas .........: 170 110 105 55 10 (D) (D) 450 : Other States ..: 180 120 71 70 45 (D) (D) 486 : United States .: 550 495 416 315 (X) 115 105 1,996 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During October 2019 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ......: 50 45 40 55 50 (D) (D) 240 Kansas ........: 65 100 140 95 50 (D) (D) 450 Nebraska ......: 140 130 110 140 150 (D) (D) 670 Texas .........: 170 135 140 65 20 (D) (D) 530 : Other States ..: 175 130 87 105 75 (D) (D) 572 : United States .: 600 540 517 460 (X) 230 115 2,462 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During November 2019 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ......: 60 40 30 30 25 (D) (D) 185 Kansas ........: 60 105 125 80 45 (D) (D) 415 Nebraska ......: 100 120 100 90 110 (D) (D) 520 Texas .........: 200 120 85 45 15 (D) (D) 465 : Other States ..: 200 115 83 65 45 (D) (D) 508 : United States .: 620 500 423 310 (X) 130 110 2,093 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During November 2019 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :November 2018 : October 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 27 21 26 96 124 California .......: 54 54 47 87 87 Colorado .........: 145 155 150 103 97 Idaho ............: 41 45 44 107 98 Iowa .............: 104 92 76 73 83 Kansas ...........: 385 400 395 103 99 Minnesota ........: 14 13 14 100 108 Nebraska .........: 490 480 475 97 99 Oklahoma .........: 50 50 57 114 114 South Dakota .....: 44 45 64 145 142 Texas ............: 430 435 390 91 90 Washington .......: 34 40 35 103 88 : Other States .....: 51 45 40 78 89 : United States ....: 1,869 1,875 1,813 97 97 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During November 2019 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :November 2018 : October 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 3 6 7 233 117 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 3 3 2 67 67 Iowa .............: 2 2 4 200 200 Kansas ...........: 15 10 10 67 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 20 10 15 75 150 Oklahoma .........: 2 1 1 50 100 South Dakota .....: 3 2 1 33 50 Texas ............: 20 15 15 75 100 Washington .......: 1 1 2 200 200 : Other States .....: 4 2 1 25 50 : United States ....: 80 59 65 81 110 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 0.1 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 2 times and has been below the latest estimate 3 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 3 2 : Placements ...................: 0.2 0.4 2 0 15 3 2 : Marketings ...................: 0.0 0.0 0 0 2 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@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 Holly Brenize - Sheep and Goats .............. (202) 720-0585 Donnie Fike - Dairy Products ................. (202) 720-4448 Heidi Lanouette - 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 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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