Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released April 22, 2022, 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 12.1 million head on April 1, 2022. The inventory was 2 percent above April 1, 2021. This is the highest April 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. The inventory included 7.54 million steers and steer calves, up 2 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 62 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.57 million head, up 2 percent from 2021. Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.99 million head, slightly below 2021. Net placements were 1.94 million head. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 375,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 330,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 530,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 515,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 180,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 60,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 2.00 million head, 2 percent below 2021. Other disappearance totaled 53,000 head during March, 12 percent below 2021. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: April 1, 2021 and 2022 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2021 : 2022 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed March 1 ........................: 12,000 12,168 101 Placed on feed during March ............: 1,998 1,990 100 Fed cattle marketed during March .......: 2,041 2,000 98 Other disappearance during March .......: 60 53 88 On feed April 1 ........................: 11,897 12,105 102 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: March 1, 2021 and 2022 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2021 : 2022 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed February 1 .....................: 12,106 12,199 101 Placed on feed during February .........: 1,691 1,853 110 Fed cattle marketed during February ....: 1,739 1,825 105 Other disappearance during February ....: 58 59 102 On feed March 1 ........................: 12,000 12,168 101 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: April 1, 2021 and 2022 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : : :----------------------------- : 2021 : 2022 :previous year : inventory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head --- percent percent : Class on feed April 1 ..................: Steers and steer calves ..............: 7,407 7,540 102 62 Heifers and heifer calves ............: 4,490 4,565 102 38 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : April 1, 2022 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : April 1, 2021 : March 1, 2022 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 272 283 285 105 101 California .......: 555 560 565 102 101 Colorado .........: 1,060 1,120 1,100 104 98 Idaho ............: 290 310 305 105 98 Iowa .............: 630 610 600 95 98 Kansas ...........: 2,480 2,510 2,510 101 100 Minnesota ........: 115 100 100 87 100 Nebraska .........: 2,580 2,690 2,660 103 99 Oklahoma .........: 300 300 290 97 97 South Dakota .....: 240 235 230 96 98 Texas ............: 2,870 2,940 2,950 103 100 Washington .......: 205 205 205 100 100 : Other States .....: 300 305 305 102 100 : United States ....: 11,897 12,168 12,105 102 99 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During March 2022 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2021 :February 2022 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 30 30 31 103 103 California .......: 63 61 69 110 113 Colorado .........: 180 175 180 100 103 Idaho ............: 35 42 37 106 88 Iowa .............: 112 106 100 89 94 Kansas ...........: 490 430 490 100 114 Minnesota ........: 16 15 15 94 100 Nebraska .........: 440 495 470 107 95 Oklahoma .........: 55 35 45 82 129 South Dakota .....: 39 39 35 90 90 Texas ............: 465 350 435 94 124 Washington .......: 19 30 32 168 107 : Other States .....: 54 45 51 94 113 : United States ....: 1,998 1,853 1,990 100 107 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During March 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 30 45 45 25 (D) (D) 180 Kansas ........: 45 75 160 150 60 (D) (D) 490 Nebraska ......: 30 60 115 145 90 (D) (D) 440 Texas .........: 170 100 95 80 20 (D) (D) 465 : Other States ..: 125 60 95 103 40 (D) (D) 423 : United States .: 405 325 510 523 (X) 175 60 1,998 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During February 2022 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 45 45 20 (D) (D) 175 Kansas ........: 45 75 140 125 45 (D) (D) 430 Nebraska ......: 35 70 150 160 80 (D) (D) 495 Texas .........: 140 75 75 50 10 (D) (D) 350 : Other States ..: 110 70 95 93 35 (D) (D) 403 : United States .: 360 325 505 473 (X) 135 55 1,853 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During March 2022 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 45 45 25 (D) (D) 180 Kansas ........: 45 75 160 150 60 (D) (D) 490 Nebraska ......: 30 65 130 150 95 (D) (D) 470 Texas .........: 150 100 95 70 20 (D) (D) 435 : Other States ..: 115 60 100 100 40 (D) (D) 415 : United States .: 375 330 530 515 (X) 180 60 1,990 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During March 2022 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2021 :February 2022 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 27 25 28 104 112 California .......: 66 54 58 88 107 Colorado .........: 215 190 195 91 103 Idaho ............: 34 36 41 121 114 Iowa .............: 109 103 108 99 105 Kansas ...........: 470 450 480 102 107 Minnesota ........: 15 14 14 93 100 Nebraska .........: 455 455 490 108 108 Oklahoma .........: 69 44 54 78 123 South Dakota .....: 41 37 37 90 100 Texas ............: 455 335 415 91 124 Washington .......: 38 34 31 82 91 : Other States .....: 47 48 49 104 102 : United States ....: 2,041 1,825 2,000 98 110 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During March 2022 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : March 2021 :February 2022 : Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 7 7 6 86 86 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 1 1 1 100 100 Iowa .............: 3 3 2 67 67 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 15 10 10 67 100 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 3 2 3 100 150 Texas ............: 10 15 10 100 67 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 2 2 2 100 100 : United States ....: 60 59 53 88 90 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States: 2021 and 2022 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers and steer calves : Heifers and heifer calves :----------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Apr 1, : Jan 1, : Apr 1, : Apr 1, : Jan 1, : Apr 1, : 2021 : 2022 : 2022 : 2021 : 2022 : 2022 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ............: 267 267 280 5 5 5 California .........: 465 470 470 90 85 95 Colorado ...........: 610 635 655 450 495 445 Idaho ..............: 155 160 170 135 150 135 Iowa ...............: 485 450 450 145 150 150 Kansas .............: 1,360 1,340 1,370 1,120 1,150 1,140 Minnesota ..........: 95 85 85 20 15 15 Nebraska ...........: 1,590 1,590 1,680 990 1,010 980 Oklahoma ...........: 180 165 160 120 145 130 South Dakota .......: 150 135 145 90 95 85 Texas ..............: 1,740 1,760 1,770 1,130 1,160 1,180 Washington .........: 115 110 110 90 100 95 : Other States .......: 195 195 195 105 115 110 : United States ......: 7,407 7,362 7,540 4,490 4,675 4,565 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 12.1 million head by more than 0.0 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.0 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 6,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 0 times and has been below the latest estimate 5 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 0.0 1 0 6 5 0 : Placements ...................: 0.2 0.4 3 0 15 8 7 : Marketings ...................: 0.2 0.4 2 0 15 5 7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. To set-up this free subscription, visit www.nass.usda.gov and click on "National" or "State" in upper right corner above "search" box to create an account and select the reports you would like to receive. Cornell's Mann Library has launched a new website housing NASS's and other agency's archived reports. The new website, https://usda.library.cornell.edu. All email subscriptions containing reports will be sent from the new website, https://usda.library.cornell.edu. To continue receiving the reports via e-mail, you will have to go to the new website, create a new account and re-subscribe to the reports. If you need instructions to set up an account or subscribe, they are located at: https://usda.library.cornell.edu/help. You should whitelist notifications@usda-esmis.library.cornell.edu in your email client to avoid the emails going into spam/junk folders. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@usda.gov. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), found online at www.ascr.usda.gov/filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usda-customer, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.