Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released May 26, 2017, 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 11.0 million head on May 1, 2017. The inventory was 2 percent above May 1, 2016. Placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.85 million head, 11 percent above 2016. Net placements were 1.78 million head. During April, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 348,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 255,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 490,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 495,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 190,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 70,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during April totaled 1.70 million head, 3 percent above 2016. Other disappearance totaled 66,000 head during April, 13 percent below 2016. Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: May 1, 2016 and 2017 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2016 : 2017 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed April 1 ........................: 10,853 10,919 101 Placed on feed during April ............: 1,664 1,848 111 Fed cattle marketed during April .......: 1,658 1,703 103 Other disappearance during April .......: 76 66 87 On feed May 1 ..........................: 10,783 10,998 102 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: April 1, 2016 and 2017 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2016 : 2017 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed March 1 ........................: 10,770 10,772 100 Placed on feed during March ............: 1,892 2,117 112 Fed cattle marketed during March .......: 1,747 1,914 110 Other disappearance during March .......: 62 56 90 On feed April 1 ........................: 10,853 10,919 101 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : May 1, 2017 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : May 1, 2016 : April 1, 2017 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 305 239 243 80 102 California .......: 415 415 425 102 102 Colorado .........: 900 940 960 107 102 Idaho ............: 240 260 275 115 106 Iowa .............: 640 670 680 106 101 Kansas ...........: 2,150 2,260 2,280 106 101 Minnesota ........: 158 160 155 98 97 Nebraska .........: 2,420 2,460 2,450 101 100 Oklahoma .........: 300 300 310 103 103 South Dakota .....: 265 250 255 96 102 Texas ............: 2,490 2,460 2,460 99 100 Washington .......: 195 195 200 103 103 : Other States .....: 305 310 305 100 98 : United States ....: 10,783 10,919 10,998 102 101 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During April 2017 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : April 2016 : March 2017 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 25 26 27 108 104 California .......: 50 59 65 130 110 Colorado .........: 145 205 155 107 76 Idaho ............: 24 46 40 167 87 Iowa .............: 78 116 95 122 82 Kansas ...........: 370 490 420 114 86 Minnesota ........: 12 23 12 100 52 Nebraska .........: 380 495 395 104 80 Oklahoma .........: 56 73 72 129 99 South Dakota .....: 24 39 34 142 87 Texas ............: 435 460 460 106 100 Washington .......: 34 42 36 106 86 : Other States .....: 31 43 37 119 86 : United States ....: 1,664 2,117 1,848 111 87 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During April 2016 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ......: 25 20 35 40 25 (D) (D) 145 Kansas ........: 55 50 100 110 55 (D) (D) 370 Nebraska ......: 45 45 85 110 95 (D) (D) 380 Texas .........: 120 70 110 110 25 (D) (D) 435 : Other States ..: 89 40 60 95 50 (D) (D) 334 : United States .: 334 225 390 465 (X) 175 75 1,664 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During March 2017 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 65 55 25 (D) (D) 205 Kansas ........: 60 75 150 145 60 (D) (D) 490 Nebraska ......: 50 65 135 150 95 (D) (D) 495 Texas .........: 110 75 140 110 25 (D) (D) 460 : Other States ..: 100 50 140 130 47 (D) (D) 467 : United States .: 350 295 630 590 (X) 185 67 2,117 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During April 2017 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ......: 25 25 40 40 25 (D) (D) 155 Kansas ........: 50 50 125 130 65 (D) (D) 420 Nebraska ......: 45 45 95 115 95 (D) (D) 395 Texas .........: 115 85 140 95 25 (D) (D) 460 : Other States ..: 113 50 90 115 50 (D) (D) 418 : United States .: 348 255 490 495 (X) 190 70 1,848 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. (X) Not applicable. 1/ The 900+ weight group is the sum of 900-999 pound and 1,000+ pound weight group. Number of Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During April 2017 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : April 2016 : March 2017 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 22 28 22 100 79 California .......: 52 62 53 102 85 Colorado .........: 135 170 125 93 74 Idaho ............: 23 34 24 104 71 Iowa .............: 75 93 82 109 88 Kansas ...........: 385 430 385 100 90 Minnesota ........: 13 22 16 123 73 Nebraska .........: 380 465 390 103 84 Oklahoma .........: 50 67 60 120 90 South Dakota .....: 22 38 27 123 71 Texas ............: 435 425 450 103 106 Washington .......: 33 30 29 88 97 : Other States .....: 33 50 40 121 80 : United States ....: 1,658 1,914 1,703 103 89 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During April 2017 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : April 2016 : March 2017 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 3 2 2 67 100 Colorado .........: 10 5 10 100 200 Idaho ............: 1 2 1 100 50 Iowa .............: 3 3 3 100 100 Kansas ...........: 15 10 15 100 150 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 20 10 15 75 150 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 2 200 200 South Dakota .....: 2 1 2 100 200 Texas ............: 10 15 10 100 67 Washington .......: 1 2 2 200 100 : Other States .....: 8 3 2 25 67 : United States ....: 76 56 66 87 118 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 0.1 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 11.0 million head by more than 0.1 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 3,000 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 7 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 ...............: 0.1 0.1 3 0 15 7 1 : Placements ...................: 0.3 0.4 3 0 15 7 2 : Marketings ...................: 0.1 0.2 0 0 10 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@nass.usda.gov. Vacant, Chief, Livestock Branch ................. (202) 720-3570 Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ........... (202) 690-2424 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ...... (202) 720-3240 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 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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