Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released January 24, 2014, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Down 5 Percent Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.6 million head on January 1, 2014. The inventory was 5 percent below January 1, 2013. The inventory included 6.78 million steers and steer calves, down 4 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 64 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.73 million head, down 8 percent from 2013. Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.68 million, 1 percent above 2012. Net placements were 1.60 million head. During December, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 485,000, 600-699 pounds were 420,000, 700-799 pounds were 391,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 385,000. Marketings of fed cattle during December totaled 1.74 million, 1 percent below 2012. Other disappearance totaled 77,000 during December, 4 percent above 2012. Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: January 1, 2013 and 2014 [December preceeding year.] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2013 : 2014 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed December 1 .....................: 11,348 10,725 95 Placed on feed during December .........: 1,664 1,681 101 Fed cattle marketed during December ....: 1,745 1,736 99 Other disappearance during December ....: 74 77 104 On feed January 1 ......................: 11,193 10,593 95 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: December 1, 2012 and 2013 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2012 : 2013 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed November 1 .....................: 11,254 10,597 94 Placed on feed during November .........: 1,943 1,882 97 Fed cattle marketed during November ....: 1,761 1,681 95 Other disappearance during November ....: 88 73 83 On feed December 1 .....................: 11,348 10,725 95 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: January 1, 2013 and 2014 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2013 : 2014 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head --- percent : Class on Feed January 1 : Steers and Steer Calves ..............: 7,047 6,780 96 Heifers and Heifer Calves ............: 4,070 3,733 92 Cows and Bulls .......................: 76 80 105 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2013 and 2014 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : January 1, 2014 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : January 1, 2013 :December 1, 2013 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 272 275 274 101 100 California .......: 480 505 510 106 101 Colorado .........: 1,000 970 960 96 99 Idaho ............: 230 225 220 96 98 Iowa .............: 620 610 620 100 102 Kansas ...........: 2,110 2,050 2,010 95 98 Nebraska .........: 2,480 2,430 2,400 97 99 Oklahoma .........: 345 265 260 75 98 South Dakota .....: 230 220 230 100 105 Texas ............: 2,720 2,510 2,440 90 97 Washington .......: 247 207 201 81 97 : Other States .....: 459 458 468 102 102 : United States ....: 11,193 10,725 10,593 95 99 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2012 and 2013 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During December 2013 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :December 2012 :November 2013 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 29 30 28 97 93 California .......: 50 64 59 118 92 Colorado .........: 140 170 150 107 88 Idaho ............: 26 42 32 123 76 Iowa .............: 82 122 96 117 79 Kansas ...........: 365 370 360 99 97 Nebraska .........: 390 475 405 104 85 Oklahoma .........: 52 42 43 83 102 South Dakota .....: 34 63 43 126 68 Texas ............: 415 405 370 89 91 Washington .......: 25 44 34 136 77 : Other States .....: 56 55 61 109 111 : United States ....: 1,664 1,882 1,681 101 89 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2012 and 2013 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During December :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Colorado .........: 35 40 35 40 35 35 35 35 140 150 Kansas ...........: 70 70 100 90 105 110 90 90 365 360 Nebraska .........: 70 80 90 100 110 95 120 130 390 405 Texas ............: 200 160 100 90 65 75 50 45 415 370 : Other States .....: 120 135 90 100 64 76 80 85 354 396 : United States ....: 495 485 415 420 379 391 375 385 1,664 1,681 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : During November :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 : 2012 : 2013 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Colorado .........: 40 55 40 50 30 30 40 35 150 170 Kansas ...........: 80 80 90 90 115 110 90 90 375 370 Nebraska .........: 120 120 120 135 80 80 145 140 465 475 Texas ............: 230 165 105 115 80 75 50 50 465 405 : Other States .....: 185 165 95 120 80 67 128 110 488 462 : United States ....: 655 585 450 510 385 362 453 425 1,943 1,882 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2012 and 2013 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During December 2013 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :December 2012 :November 2013 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 23 24 28 122 117 California .......: 55 52 52 95 100 Colorado .........: 155 145 150 97 103 Idaho ............: 40 36 36 90 100 Iowa .............: 68 100 84 124 84 Kansas ...........: 425 350 385 91 110 Nebraska .........: 425 400 420 99 105 Oklahoma .........: 49 45 45 92 100 South Dakota .....: 33 41 30 91 73 Texas ............: 380 405 420 111 104 Washington .......: 38 39 37 97 95 : Other States .....: 54 44 49 91 111 : United States ....: 1,745 1,681 1,736 99 103 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2012 and 2013 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During December 2013 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :December 2012 :November 2013 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 5 2 2 40 100 Colorado .........: 5 5 10 200 200 Idaho ............: 1 1 1 100 100 Iowa .............: 4 2 2 50 100 Kansas ...........: 20 20 15 75 75 Nebraska .........: 15 15 15 100 100 Oklahoma .........: 3 2 3 100 150 South Dakota .....: 1 2 3 300 150 Texas ............: 15 20 20 133 100 Washington .......: 1 1 3 300 300 : Other States .....: 3 2 2 67 100 : United States ....: 74 73 77 104 105 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States: 2013 and 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : Steers and steer calves :Heifers and heifer calves : Cows and bulls :----------------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Jan 1, : Oct 1, : Jan 1, : Jan 1, : Oct 1, : Jan 1, :Jan 1, :Oct 1, :Jan 1, : 2013 : 2013 : 2014 : 2013 : 2013 : 2014 : 2013 : 2013 : 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : 1,000 Head : Arizona ..........: 264 261 268 8 7 6 0 0 0 California .......: 405 455 470 75 44 40 0 1 0 Colorado .........: 620 560 615 370 305 340 10 5 5 Idaho ............: 126 115 125 99 90 91 5 5 4 Iowa .............: 420 355 425 200 205 195 0 0 0 Kansas ...........: 1,160 1,060 1,060 945 935 945 5 5 5 Nebraska .........: 1,530 1,390 1,545 930 810 820 20 10 35 Oklahoma .........: 220 190 170 125 95 90 0 0 0 South Dakota .....: 113 104 125 91 67 80 26 9 25 Texas ............: 1,720 1,540 1,510 999 919 929 1 1 1 Washington .......: 147 109 120 96 72 77 4 3 4 : Other States .....: 322 303 347 132 113 120 5 1 1 : United States ....: 7,047 6,442 6,780 4,070 3,662 3,733 76 40 80 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Terms and Definitions of Cattle on Feed Estimates Cattle on feed are animals 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 cattle 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 cattle 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. Reliability of Cattle on Feed Estimates 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 11 of the 16 States. Data collected from the remaining 5 States are used to establish the "Other States" estimates. These 5 States include Illinois, Minnesota, 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 each State office. 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 10.6 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 2,000 head, ranging from 0 to 20,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 2 times 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 ---- : Number on feed ...............: 0.0 0.1 2 0 20 3 2 : Placements ...................: 0.3 0.4 2 0 20 3 3 : Marketings ...................: 0.2 0.4 1 0 20 2 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch ............ (202) 720-3570 Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ............ (202) 690-2424 Travis Averill - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ....... (202) 720-3040 Doug Bounds - Hogs and Pigs ................... (202) 720-3106 Alissa Cowell-Mytar - Sheep and Goats, Honey .. (202) 720-4751 Donnie Fike - Dairy Products .................. (202) 690-3236 Tiffany Hora - Livestock Slaughter ............ (515) 284-4340 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows ... (202) 720-3278 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: http://www.nass.usda.gov Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e- mail subscription. 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