Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released August 21, 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 11.3 million head on August 1, 2020. The inventory was 2 percent above August 1, 2019. This is the highest August 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. Placements in feedlots during July totaled 1.89 million head, 11 percent above 2019. Net placements were 1.84 million head. During July, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 420,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 315,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 435,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 458,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 195,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 70,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during July totaled 1.99 million head, 1 percent below 2019. Other disappearance totaled 57,000 head during July, 20 percent below 2019. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: August 1, 2019 and 2020 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2019 : 2020 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed July 1 .........................: 11,480 11,438 100 Placed on feed during July .............: 1,705 1,893 111 Fed cattle marketed during July ........: 2,002 1,990 99 Other disappearance during July ........: 71 57 80 On feed August 1 .......................: 11,112 11,284 102 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: July 1, 2019 and 2020 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2019 : 2020 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed June 1 .........................: 11,728 11,671 100 Placed on feed during June .............: 1,761 1,798 102 Fed cattle marketed during June ........: 1,943 1,969 101 Other disappearance during June ........: 66 62 94 On feed July 1 .........................: 11,480 11,438 100 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2019 and 2020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : August 1, 2020 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : August 1, 2019 : July 1, 2020 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 272 273 269 99 99 California .......: 535 545 545 102 100 Colorado .........: 970 1,020 1,020 105 100 Idaho ............: 280 280 260 93 93 Iowa .............: 630 630 620 98 98 Kansas ...........: 2,340 2,390 2,410 103 101 Minnesota ........: 110 125 120 109 96 Nebraska .........: 2,190 2,260 2,220 101 98 Oklahoma .........: 315 315 305 97 97 South Dakota .....: 195 185 180 92 97 Texas ............: 2,760 2,920 2,850 103 98 Washington .......: 225 225 225 100 100 : Other States .....: 290 270 260 90 96 : United States ....: 11,112 11,438 11,284 102 99 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2019 and 2020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During July 2020 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : July 2019 : June 2020 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 17 22 20 118 91 California .......: 63 60 59 94 98 Colorado .........: 130 175 165 127 94 Idaho ............: 38 38 33 87 87 Iowa .............: 61 58 63 103 109 Kansas ...........: 450 425 520 116 122 Minnesota ........: 11 14 11 100 79 Nebraska .........: 400 420 470 118 112 Oklahoma .........: 45 55 41 91 75 South Dakota .....: 23 23 20 87 87 Texas ............: 380 440 415 109 94 Washington .......: 32 26 33 103 127 : Other States .....: 55 42 43 78 102 : United States ....: 1,705 1,798 1,893 111 105 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2019 and 2020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During July 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 ......: 25 20 30 25 30 (D) (D) 130 Kansas ........: 50 75 145 115 65 (D) (D) 450 Nebraska ......: 35 35 95 125 110 (D) (D) 400 Texas .........: 155 95 70 45 15 (D) (D) 380 : Other States ..: 95 35 70 75 70 (D) (D) 345 : United States .: 360 260 410 385 (X) 200 90 1,705 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During June 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 ......: 45 35 30 35 30 (D) (D) 175 Kansas ........: 60 80 110 115 60 (D) (D) 425 Nebraska ......: 40 55 75 130 120 (D) (D) 420 Texas .........: 185 90 90 55 20 (D) (D) 440 : Other States ..: 100 50 55 78 55 (D) (D) 338 : United States .: 430 310 360 413 (X) 200 85 1,798 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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: 2019 and 2020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During July 2020 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : July 2019 : June 2020 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 39 19 23 59 121 California .......: 59 53 53 90 100 Colorado .........: 185 160 160 86 100 Idaho ............: 46 37 52 113 141 Iowa .............: 77 66 70 91 106 Kansas ...........: 455 455 490 108 108 Minnesota ........: 25 18 15 60 83 Nebraska .........: 490 555 500 102 90 Oklahoma .........: 49 54 50 102 93 South Dakota .....: 37 32 24 65 75 Texas ............: 445 440 470 106 107 Washington .......: 41 30 32 78 107 : Other States .....: 54 50 51 94 102 : United States ....: 2,002 1,969 1,990 99 101 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2019 and 2020 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During July 2020 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : July 2019 : June 2020 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 4 7 6 150 86 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 2 1 1 50 100 Iowa .............: 4 2 3 75 150 Kansas ...........: 15 10 10 67 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 20 15 10 50 67 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 1 6 1 100 17 Texas ............: 15 10 15 100 150 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 1 2 2 200 100 : United States ....: 71 62 57 80 92 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 11.3 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 4,000 head, ranging from 0 to 15,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 8 times and has been below the latest estimate 2 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 4 0 15 2 8 : Placements ...................: 0.3 0.5 3 0 15 6 3 : Marketings ...................: 0.2 0.4 1 0 15 1 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 Ryan Cowen - 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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