Mt An 2-1 (7-09) Cattle on Feed National Agricultural Statistics Service USDA Washington, D.C. Released July 24, 2009, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture. For information on "Cattle on Feed" call Jason Hardegree at (202) 720-3040, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. U.S. 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 9.8 million head on July 1, 2009. The inventory was 5 percent below July 1, 2008. The inventory included 5.99 million steers and steer calves, down 7 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 61 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.72 million head, down 3 percent from 2008. Placements in feedlots during June totaled 1.39 million, 8 percent below 2008. Net placements were 1.33 million head. During June, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 315,000, 600-699 pounds were 290,000, 700-799 pounds were 371,000 and 800 pounds and greater were 415,000. This is the second lowest placements for the month of June since the series began in 1996. Marketings of fed cattle during June totaled 1.99 million, 1 percent above 2008. This is the second lowest fed cattle marketings for the month of June since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 57,000 during June, 5 percent below 2008. U.S. All Cattle on Feed Down 5 Percent Cattle on feed July 1, 2009, from all feedlots in the United States, totaled 11.6 million, down 5 percent from the 12.2 million on July 1, 2008. Cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 or more head accounted for 84 percent of the total cattle on feed on July 1, 2009, down slightly from July 1, 2008. Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, United States, July 1, 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : 2009 as % Item :---------------------------------------- : 2008 : 2009 : of 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head ---- Percent : On Feed Jun 1 : 10,815 10,407 96 Placed on Feed During Jun : 1,518 1,391 92 Fed Cattle Marketed During Jun : 1,978 1,989 101 Other Disappearance During Jun : 60 57 95 On Feed Jul 1 : 10,295 9,752 95 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, United States, June 1, 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : 2009 as % Item :---------------------------------------- : 2008 : 2009 : of 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head ---- Percent : On Feed May 1 : 11,135 10,822 97 Placed on Feed During May : 1,900 1,638 86 Fed Cattle Marketed During May : 2,140 1,952 91 Other Disappearance During May : 80 101 126 On Feed Jun 1 : 10,815 10,407 96 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed by Class, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, United States, July 1, 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number :2009 as % of Item :---------------------------------------- : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head --- Percent : Class on Feed Jul 1 : Steers and Steer Calves : 6,432 5,992 93 Heifers and Heifer Calves : 3,823 3,719 97 Cows and Bulls : 40 41 103 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Jul 1, 2009 : : :------------------------------------------ State : Jul 1, 2008 : Jun 1, 2009 : : as % of : as % of : : : Number : 2008 : Jun -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 Head ----------- ---- Percent --- : AZ : 356 301 287 81 95 CA : 520 470 460 88 98 CO : 820 980 910 111 93 ID : 200 205 200 100 98 IA : 500 530 520 104 98 KS : 2,080 2,080 1,920 92 92 NE : 2,050 2,110 1,920 94 91 NM : 154 105 94 61 90 OK : 300 310 295 98 95 SD : 185 220 205 111 93 TX : 2,660 2,610 2,490 94 95 WA : 140 156 146 104 94 : Oth Sts: 330 330 305 92 92 : US : 10,295 10,407 9,752 95 94 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Number Placed on Feed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During Jun 2009 : During : During :------------------------------------------ State : Jun 2008 : May 2009 : : as % of : as % of : : : Number : 2008 : May -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 Head ----------- ---- Percent ---- : AZ : 32 26 21 66 81 CA : 52 74 43 83 58 CO : 85 140 125 147 89 ID : 33 35 32 97 91 IA : 41 60 59 144 98 KS : 330 345 305 92 88 NE : 290 310 270 93 87 NM : 32 16 17 53 106 OK : 57 67 44 77 66 SD : 21 40 25 119 63 TX : 460 455 380 83 84 WA : 28 31 30 107 97 : Oth Sts: 57 39 40 70 103 : US : 1,518 1,638 1,391 92 85 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Number Placed on Feed by Weight Group, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States, 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During June :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State : Under 600 : 600-699 : 700-799 : 800 Plus : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : CO : 20 15 10 20 25 35 30 55 85 125 KS : 60 55 75 70 100 95 95 85 330 305 NE : 40 50 40 55 70 55 140 110 290 270 TX : 135 110 140 95 120 125 65 50 460 380 : Oth Sts : 110 85 60 50 68 61 115 115 353 311 : US : 365 315 325 290 383 371 445 415 1,518 1,391 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : During May :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : Under 600 : 600-699 : 700-799 : 800 Plus : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : CO : 25 25 30 25 45 45 50 45 150 140 KS : 50 65 70 70 130 110 160 100 410 345 NE : 40 30 70 60 85 80 175 140 370 310 TX : 105 170 125 100 210 110 120 75 560 455 : Oth Sts : 120 105 55 50 95 88 140 145 410 388 : US : 340 395 350 305 565 433 645 505 1,900 1,638 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Number Marketed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During Jun 2009 : During : During :------------------------------------------ State : Jun 2008 : May 2009 : : as % of : as % of : : : Number : 2008 : May -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 Head ----------- ---- Percent ---- : AZ : 40 35 34 85 97 CA : 55 52 51 93 98 CO : 175 145 190 109 131 ID : 47 39 36 77 92 IA : 60 68 67 112 99 KS : 430 425 455 106 107 NE : 475 450 440 93 98 NM : 27 28 27 100 96 OK : 61 71 58 95 82 SD : 38 44 39 103 89 TX : 480 510 490 102 96 WA : 32 35 39 122 111 : Oth Sts: 58 50 63 109 126 : US : 1,978 1,952 1,989 101 102 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During Jun 2009 : During : During :------------------------------------------ State : Jun 2008 : May 2009 : : as % of : as % of : : : Number : 2008 : May -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 Head ---------- ---- Percent ---- : AZ : 1 1 1 100 100 CA : 2 2 2 100 100 CO : 10 25 5 50 20 ID : 1 1 1 100 100 IA : 1 2 2 200 100 KS : 10 20 10 100 50 NE : 15 20 20 133 100 NM : 1 3 1 100 33 OK : 1 1 1 100 100 SD : 3 6 1 33 17 TX : 10 15 10 100 67 WA : 1 1 1 100 100 : Oth Sts: 4 4 2 50 50 : US : 60 101 57 95 56 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed by Class, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, by Quarter, State, and United States, 2008-2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Steers & Steer Calves :Heifers & Heifer Calves: Cows and Bulls :----------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Jul 1, :Apr 1, :Jul 1, :Jul 1, :Apr 1, :Jul 1, :Jul 1, :Apr 1, :Jul 1, : 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2009 : 2008 : 2009 : 2009 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : AZ : 354 329 286 2 1 1 0 0 0 CA : 470 400 410 50 45 50 0 0 0 CO : 485 670 615 330 365 290 5 5 5 ID : 112 103 105 86 97 94 2 10 1 IA : 335 *380 365 165 *150 155 0 0 0 KS : 1,135 1,190 970 940 1,085 945 5 5 5 NE : 1,270 1,400 1,130 775 910 785 5 10 5 NM : 78 72 58 76 65 36 0 0 0 OK : 190 190 173 110 140 122 0 0 0 SD : 93 125 105 75 85 80 17 15 20 TX : 1,600 1,780 1,500 1,059 1,028 989 1 2 1 WA : 65 90 80 74 69 65 1 1 1 : Oth Sts : 245 255 195 81 87 107 4 3 3 : US : 6,432 *6,984 5,992 3,823 *4,127 3,719 40 51 41 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Revised. Cattle on Feed: Total Number on Feed, United States, July 1, 2008-2009 ---------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : 2009 as % of State :----------------------------------------------------- : 2008 : 2009 : 2008 ---------------------------------------------------------------- : ------ 1,000 Head ------ Percent : US : 12,200 11,600 95 ---------------------------------------------------------------- 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 U.S. 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 98 percent of the cattle on feed in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head. 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 setting 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 following table. 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 less than 0.1 percent (0.04). This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 9.8 million head by more than 0.04 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.1 percent. The following table also 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 18,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the final estimate 1 time and has been below the final 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 1/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : 90% : Difference Between : : : Confidence : First and Final : Number of : Root : Level : Estimates : Months Item : Mean :--------------------------------------------------------- : Square : : : : : : First : First : Error :Percent: (000) :Average:Smallest:Largest: Above : Below : : : Head : : : : Final : Final -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Percent -------- 1,000 Head -------- Number : Number on : Feed : 0.0 0.1 9.8 2 0 18 1 5 : Placements : 0.2 0.3 4.2 2 0 10 2 6 : Marketings : 0.2 0.3 6.0 1 0 10 4 2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/ Based on data for the past 24 months. Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch.............................(202) 720-3570 Livestock Section Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section.............................(202) 690-2424 Jim Collom - Dairy Products...............................(202) 690-3236 Joe Gaynor - Dairy Products Prices........................(202) 690-2168 Jason Hardegree - Cattle, Cattle on Feed..................(202) 720-3040 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter...................(515) 284-4340 Everett Olbert - Sheep and Goats..........................(202) 720-4751 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows...............(202) 720-3278 Nick Streff - Hogs and Pigs...............................(202) 720-3106 ACCESS TO REPORTS!! For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data products, and services: INTERNET ACCESS All NASS reports are available free of charge. For free access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at: www.nass.usda.gov. 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