Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released August 20, 2021, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Down 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 11.1 million head on August 1, 2021. The inventory was 2 percent below August 1, 2020. Placements in feedlots during July totaled 1.74 million head, 8 percent below 2020. Net placements were 1.68 million head. During July, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 375,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 255,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 410,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 424,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 205,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 70,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during July totaled 1.90 million head, 5 percent below 2020. Other disappearance totaled 55,000 head during July, 4 percent below 2020. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: August 1, 2020 and 2021 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2020 : 2021 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed July 1 .........................: 11,438 11,290 99 Placed on feed during July .............: 1,893 1,739 92 Fed cattle marketed during July ........: 1,990 1,900 95 Other disappearance during July ........: 57 55 96 On feed August 1 .......................: 11,284 11,074 98 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: July 1, 2020 and 2021 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2020 : 2021 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed June 1 .........................: 11,671 11,699 100 Placed on feed during June .............: 1,798 1,670 93 Fed cattle marketed during June ........: 1,969 2,022 103 Other disappearance during June ........: 62 57 92 On feed July 1 .........................: 11,438 11,290 99 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2020 and 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : August 1, 2021 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : August 1, 2020 : July 1, 2021 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 269 275 274 102 100 California .......: 545 540 540 99 100 Colorado .........: 1,020 1,060 1,040 102 98 Idaho ............: 260 280 275 106 98 Iowa .............: 620 600 600 97 100 Kansas ...........: 2,410 2,450 2,410 100 98 Minnesota ........: 120 100 95 79 95 Nebraska .........: 2,220 2,290 2,200 99 96 Oklahoma .........: 305 275 270 89 98 South Dakota .....: 180 200 195 108 98 Texas ............: 2,850 2,770 2,720 95 98 Washington .......: 225 190 190 84 100 : Other States .....: 260 260 265 102 102 : United States ....: 11,284 11,290 11,074 98 98 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2020 and 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During July 2021 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : July 2020 : June 2021 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 20 22 22 110 100 California .......: 59 62 64 108 103 Colorado .........: 165 130 160 97 123 Idaho ............: 33 36 38 115 106 Iowa .............: 63 44 56 89 127 Kansas ...........: 520 430 440 85 102 Minnesota ........: 11 12 11 100 92 Nebraska .........: 470 415 440 94 106 Oklahoma .........: 41 54 38 93 70 South Dakota .....: 20 20 21 105 105 Texas ............: 415 380 370 89 97 Washington .......: 33 24 31 94 129 : Other States .....: 43 41 48 112 117 : United States ....: 1,893 1,670 1,739 92 104 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2020 and 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During July 2020 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 40 30 30 (D) (D) 165 Kansas ........: 65 95 155 145 60 (D) (D) 520 Nebraska ......: 40 55 110 160 105 (D) (D) 470 Texas .........: 185 100 70 45 15 (D) (D) 415 : Other States ..: 95 35 60 78 55 (D) (D) 323 : United States .: 420 315 435 458 (X) 195 70 1,893 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During June 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 25 30 20 (D) (D) 130 Kansas ........: 55 70 125 115 65 (D) (D) 430 Nebraska ......: 30 50 85 130 120 (D) (D) 415 Texas .........: 145 70 85 55 25 (D) (D) 380 : Other States ..: 85 45 55 75 55 (D) (D) 315 : United States .: 345 260 375 405 (X) 195 90 1,670 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During July 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 ......: 35 25 35 35 30 (D) (D) 160 Kansas ........: 55 70 145 115 55 (D) (D) 440 Nebraska ......: 35 45 95 150 115 (D) (D) 440 Texas .........: 155 80 75 45 15 (D) (D) 370 : Other States ..: 95 35 60 79 60 (D) (D) 329 : United States .: 375 255 410 424 (X) 205 70 1,739 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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: 2020 and 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During July 2021 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : July 2020 : June 2021 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 23 25 22 96 88 California .......: 53 60 56 106 93 Colorado .........: 160 145 175 109 121 Idaho ............: 52 44 41 79 93 Iowa .............: 70 62 53 76 85 Kansas ...........: 490 490 470 96 96 Minnesota ........: 15 16 15 100 94 Nebraska .........: 500 555 520 104 94 Oklahoma .........: 50 53 42 84 79 South Dakota .....: 24 36 25 104 69 Texas ............: 470 450 410 87 91 Washington .......: 32 32 30 94 94 : Other States .....: 51 54 41 80 76 : United States ....: 1,990 2,022 1,900 95 94 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2020 and 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During July 2021 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : July 2020 : June 2021 : Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 6 7 8 133 114 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 1 2 2 200 100 Iowa .............: 3 2 3 100 150 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 .....: 1 4 1 100 25 Texas ............: 15 10 10 67 100 Washington .......: 1 2 1 100 50 : Other States .....: 2 2 2 100 100 : United States ....: 57 57 55 96 96 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 11.1 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 1,000 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 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 ---- : On feed ......................: 0.0 0.1 1 0 15 3 1 : Placements ...................: 0.3 0.4 3 0 15 7 2 : Marketings ...................: 0.2 0.4 1 0 15 4 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 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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