Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released January 24, 2020, 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 January 1, 2020. The inventory was 2 percent above January 1, 2019. The inventory included 7.37 million steers and steer calves, up 1 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 62 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.59 million head, up 4 percent from 2019. Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.83 million head, 3 percent above 2019. Net placements were 1.76 million head. During December, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 465,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 455,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 413,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 295,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 95,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 105,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during December totaled 1.83 million head, 5 percent above 2018. Other disappearance totaled 67,000 head during December, 11 percent below 2018. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: January 1, 2019 and 2020 [December preceding year] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2019 : 2020 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed December 1 .....................: 11,739 12,031 102 Placed on feed during December .........: 1,767 1,828 103 Fed cattle marketed during December ....: 1,741 1,834 105 Other disappearance during December ....: 75 67 89 On feed January 1 ......................: 11,690 11,958 102 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: January 1, 2019 and 2020 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :--------------------------------------------------------- : 2019 : 2020 :previous year : inventory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head --- percent percent : Class on feed January 1 : Steers and steer calves ..............: 7,280 7,373 101 62 Heifers and heifer calves ............: 4,410 4,585 104 38 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2019 and 2020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : January 1, 2020 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : January 1, 2019 :December 1, 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 295 256 253 86 99 California .......: 535 550 540 101 98 Colorado .........: 1,010 1,100 1,090 108 99 Idaho ............: 280 300 300 107 100 Iowa .............: 690 690 670 97 97 Kansas ...........: 2,330 2,430 2,420 104 100 Minnesota ........: 155 140 135 87 96 Nebraska .........: 2,560 2,480 2,460 96 99 Oklahoma .........: 315 325 330 105 102 South Dakota .....: 245 250 245 100 98 Texas ............: 2,730 2,930 2,960 108 101 Washington .......: 225 240 235 104 98 : Other States .....: 320 340 320 100 94 : United States ....: 11,690 12,031 11,958 102 99 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During December 2019 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :December 2018 :November 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 31 27 25 81 93 California .......: 73 64 64 88 100 Colorado .........: 145 185 140 97 76 Idaho ............: 33 56 36 109 64 Iowa .............: 85 110 72 85 65 Kansas ...........: 395 415 435 110 105 Minnesota ........: 12 25 10 83 40 Nebraska .........: 410 520 465 113 89 Oklahoma .........: 36 58 59 164 102 South Dakota .....: 50 75 40 80 53 Texas ............: 410 465 410 100 88 Washington .......: 27 42 32 119 76 : Other States .....: 60 51 40 67 78 : United States ....: 1,767 2,093 1,828 103 87 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During December 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 ......: 35 40 30 25 15 (D) (D) 145 Kansas ........: 55 95 130 75 40 (D) (D) 395 Nebraska ......: 50 110 90 80 80 (D) (D) 410 Texas .........: 155 105 85 50 15 (D) (D) 410 : Other States ..: 150 110 67 55 25 (D) (D) 407 : United States .: 445 460 402 285 (X) 90 85 1,767 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During December 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 ......: 30 35 35 25 15 (D) (D) 140 Kansas ........: 65 110 135 80 45 (D) (D) 435 Nebraska ......: 50 110 105 100 100 (D) (D) 465 Texas .........: 170 110 75 40 15 (D) (D) 410 : Other States ..: 150 90 63 50 25 (D) (D) 378 : United States .: 465 455 413 295 (X) 95 105 1,828 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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 December 2019 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :December 2018 :November 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 24 26 27 113 104 California .......: 70 47 70 100 149 Colorado .........: 140 150 145 104 97 Idaho ............: 36 44 35 97 80 Iowa .............: 92 76 90 98 118 Kansas ...........: 410 395 430 105 109 Minnesota ........: 16 14 14 88 100 Nebraska .........: 430 475 470 109 99 Oklahoma .........: 45 57 52 116 91 South Dakota .....: 40 64 43 108 67 Texas ............: 345 390 365 106 94 Washington .......: 36 35 36 100 103 : Other States .....: 57 40 57 100 143 : United States ....: 1,741 1,813 1,834 105 101 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2018 and 2019 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During December 2019 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :December 2018 :November 2019 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 3 7 4 133 57 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 2 2 1 50 50 Iowa .............: 3 4 2 67 50 Kansas ...........: 15 10 15 100 150 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 20 15 15 75 100 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 2 200 200 South Dakota .....: 5 1 2 40 200 Texas ............: 15 15 15 100 100 Washington .......: 1 2 1 100 50 : Other States .....: 3 1 3 100 300 : United States ....: 75 65 67 89 103 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States: 2019 and 2020 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers and steer calves : Heifers and heifer calves :----------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Jan 1, : Oct 1, : Jan 1, : Jan 1, : Oct 1, : Jan 1, : 2019 : 2019 : 2020 : 2019 : 2019 : 2020 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ............: 285 248 248 10 5 5 California .........: 465 455 465 70 70 75 Colorado ...........: 570 520 585 440 470 505 Idaho ..............: 185 180 185 95 95 115 Iowa ...............: 510 440 490 180 200 180 Kansas .............: 1,270 1,270 1,300 1,060 1,110 1,120 Minnesota ..........: 130 90 115 25 15 20 Nebraska ...........: 1,570 1,360 1,490 990 910 970 Oklahoma ...........: 180 175 185 135 140 145 South Dakota .......: 135 120 140 110 90 105 Texas ..............: 1,640 1,690 1,830 1,090 1,100 1,130 Washington .........: 140 130 135 85 95 100 : Other States .......: 200 190 205 120 120 115 : United States ......: 7,280 6,868 7,373 4,410 4,420 4,585 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Heidi Lanouette - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ..... (202) 720-3040 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 Suzanne Richards - Dairy Products ............ (202) 720-4448 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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