Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released June 23, 2017, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Up 3 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 June 1, 2017. The inventory was 3 percent above June 1, 2016. Placements in feedlots during May totaled 2.12 million head, 12 percent above 2016. Net placements were 2.05 million head. During May, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 400,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 315,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 529,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 550,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 235,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 90,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during May totaled 1.95 million head, 9 percent above 2016. Other disappearance totaled 70,000 head during May, 5 percent below 2016. Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: June 1, 2016 and 2017 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2016 : 2017 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed May 1 ..........................: 10,783 10,998 102 Placed on feed during May ..............: 1,889 2,119 112 Fed cattle marketed during May .........: 1,794 1,951 109 Other disappearance during May .........: 74 70 95 On feed June 1 .........................: 10,804 11,096 103 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : June 1, 2017 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : June 1, 2016 : May 1, 2017 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 300 243 246 82 101 California .......: 415 425 440 106 104 Colorado .........: 890 960 970 109 101 Idaho ............: 245 275 270 110 98 Iowa .............: 630 680 680 108 100 Kansas ...........: 2,160 2,280 2,270 105 100 Minnesota ........: 154 155 145 94 94 Nebraska .........: 2,340 2,450 2,350 100 96 Oklahoma .........: 320 310 330 103 106 South Dakota .....: 250 255 240 96 94 Texas ............: 2,610 2,460 2,650 102 108 Washington .......: 195 200 205 105 103 : Other States .....: 295 305 300 102 98 : United States ....: 10,804 10,998 11,096 103 101 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During May 2017 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : May 2016 : April 2017 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 19 27 26 137 96 California .......: 54 65 71 131 109 Colorado .........: 135 155 160 119 103 Idaho ............: 41 40 39 95 98 Iowa .............: 64 95 85 133 89 Kansas ...........: 420 420 440 105 105 Minnesota ........: 14 12 17 121 142 Nebraska .........: 405 395 445 110 113 Oklahoma .........: 68 72 80 118 111 South Dakota .....: 29 34 39 134 115 Texas ............: 560 460 640 114 139 Washington .......: 48 36 41 85 114 : Other States .....: 32 37 36 113 97 : United States ....: 1,889 1,848 2,119 112 115 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During May 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 ......: 20 15 35 40 25 (D) (D) 135 Kansas ........: 50 55 120 135 60 (D) (D) 420 Nebraska ......: 40 50 85 120 110 (D) (D) 405 Texas .........: 115 85 170 155 35 (D) (D) 560 : Other States ..: 85 40 69 115 60 (D) (D) 369 : United States .: 310 245 479 565 (X) 200 90 1,889 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During May 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 20 35 45 35 (D) (D) 160 Kansas ........: 50 70 135 115 70 (D) (D) 440 Nebraska ......: 50 50 95 130 120 (D) (D) 445 Texas .........: 155 125 180 145 35 (D) (D) 640 : Other States ..: 120 50 84 115 65 (D) (D) 434 : United States .: 400 315 529 550 (X) 235 90 2,119 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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. Number of Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During May 2017 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : May 2016 : April 2017 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 21 22 22 105 100 California .......: 50 53 53 106 100 Colorado .........: 130 125 140 108 112 Idaho ............: 35 24 42 120 175 Iowa .............: 72 82 82 114 100 Kansas ...........: 400 385 435 109 113 Minnesota ........: 17 16 26 153 163 Nebraska .........: 465 390 530 114 136 Oklahoma .........: 47 60 58 123 97 South Dakota .....: 40 27 51 128 189 Texas ............: 430 450 440 102 98 Washington .......: 46 29 35 76 121 : Other States .....: 41 40 37 90 93 : United States ....: 1,794 1,703 1,951 109 115 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2016 and 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During May 2017 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : May 2016 : April 2017 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 3 1 1 33 100 California .......: 4 2 3 75 150 Colorado .........: 15 10 10 67 100 Idaho ............: 1 1 2 200 200 Iowa .............: 2 3 3 150 100 Kansas ...........: 10 15 15 150 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 20 15 15 75 100 Oklahoma .........: 1 2 2 200 100 South Dakota .....: 4 2 3 75 150 Texas ............: 10 10 10 100 100 Washington .......: 2 2 1 50 50 : Other States .....: 1 2 4 400 200 : United States ....: 74 66 70 95 106 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 11.1 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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