Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released January 21, 2011, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Up 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 11.5 million head on January 1, 2011. The inventory was 5 percent above January 1, 2010. The inventory included 7.18 million steers and steer calves, up 4 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 62 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.26 million head, up 5 percent from 2010. Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.80 million, 16 percent above 2009. Net placements were 1.73 million head. During December, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 480,000, 600-699 pounds were 495,000, 700-799 pounds were 440,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 380,000. Marketings of fed cattle during December totaled 1.83 million, 5 percent above 2009. This is the second highest fed cattle marketings for the month of December since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 65,000 during December, 10 percent below 2009. Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: January 1, 2010 and 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2010 : 2011 :previous year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed December 1 ..................: 11,277 11,614 103 Placed on feed during December ......: 1,546 1,795 116 Fed cattle marketed during December .: 1,743 1,827 105 Other disappearance during December .: 72 65 90 On feed January 1 ...................: 11,008 11,517 105 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: December 1, 2009 and 2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2009 : 2010 :previous year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed November 1 ..................: 11,134 11,487 103 Placed on feed during November ......: 1,844 1,958 106 Fed cattle marketed during November .: 1,635 1,769 108 Other disappearance during November .: 66 62 94 On feed December 1 ..................: 11,277 11,614 103 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: January 1, 2010 and 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2010 : 2011 :previous year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head --- percent : Class on Feed January 1 : Steers and Steer Calves ...........: 6,877 7,180 104 Heifers and Heifer Calves .........: 4,068 4,260 105 Cows and Bulls ....................: 63 77 122 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2010 and 2011 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : January 1, 2011 : : :----------------------------------------- State : January 1, 2010 :December 1, 2010 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : -------------- 1,000 head ------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ........: 287 249 258 90 104 California .....: 465 470 470 101 100 Colorado .......: 1,010 1,090 1,080 107 99 Idaho ..........: 215 235 240 112 102 Iowa ...........: 570 630 640 112 102 Kansas .........: 2,250 2,360 2,280 101 97 Nebraska .......: 2,360 2,460 2,430 103 99 Oklahoma .......: 365 380 375 103 99 South Dakota ...: 235 255 260 111 102 Texas ..........: 2,680 2,840 2,840 106 100 Washington .....: 166 208 212 128 102 : Other States ...: 405 437 432 107 99 : United States ..: 11,008 11,614 11,517 105 99 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2009 and 2010 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During December 2010 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :December 2009 :November 2010 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 32 22 36 113 164 California .......: 63 69 61 97 88 Colorado .........: 110 155 160 145 103 Idaho ............: 41 52 42 102 81 Iowa .............: 85 114 93 109 82 Kansas ...........: 375 375 410 109 109 Nebraska .........: 320 445 380 119 85 Oklahoma .........: 50 60 55 110 92 South Dakota .....: 38 62 45 118 73 Texas ............: 350 475 420 120 88 Washington .......: 29 53 42 145 79 : Other States .....: 53 76 51 96 67 : United States ....: 1,546 1,958 1,795 116 92 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2009 and 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : During December :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : 1,000 head : Colorado .....: 25 30 30 50 30 40 25 40 110 160 Kansas .......: 70 75 100 115 135 130 70 90 375 410 Nebraska .....: 60 55 80 110 100 105 80 110 320 380 Texas ........: 140 180 110 120 70 80 30 40 350 420 : Other States .: 135 140 100 100 66 85 90 100 391 425 : United States : 430 480 420 495 401 440 295 380 1,546 1,795 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : During November :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 : 2009 : 2010 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Colorado .....: 40 45 50 40 35 30 40 40 165 155 Kansas .......: 70 80 105 105 110 120 70 70 355 375 Nebraska .....: 80 110 140 160 80 65 100 110 400 445 Texas ........: 160 195 140 145 100 85 55 50 455 475 : Other States .: 160 195 130 140 69 73 110 100 469 508 : United States : 510 625 565 590 394 373 375 370 1,844 1,958 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Number of Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2009 and 2010 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During December 2010 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :December 2009 :November 2010 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 26 23 26 100 113 California .......: 59 55 57 97 104 Colorado .........: 155 150 165 106 110 Idaho ............: 35 30 35 100 117 Iowa .............: 73 90 80 110 89 Kansas ...........: 445 400 480 108 120 Nebraska .........: 350 395 400 114 101 Oklahoma .........: 58 63 58 100 92 South Dakota .....: 36 36 39 108 108 Texas ............: 410 440 400 98 91 Washington .......: 34 36 36 106 100 : Other States .....: 62 51 51 82 100 : United States ....: 1,743 1,769 1,827 105 103 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2009 and 2010 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During December 2010 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State :December 2009 :November 2010 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 4 4 4 100 100 Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100 Idaho ............: 1 2 2 200 100 Iowa .............: 2 4 3 150 75 Kansas ...........: 10 15 10 100 67 Nebraska .........: 20 10 10 50 100 Oklahoma .........: 2 2 2 100 100 South Dakota .....: 2 1 1 50 100 Texas ............: 20 15 20 100 133 Washington .......: 1 1 2 200 200 : Other States .....: 4 2 5 125 250 : United States ....: 72 62 65 90 105 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States: 2010 and 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 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, : 2010 : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2010 : 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ......: 285 239 255 2 1 3 0 0 0 California ...: 410 355 405 53 90 65 2 0 0 Colorado .....: 650 705 710 355 290 365 5 5 5 Idaho ........: 120 116 116 90 78 108 5 6 16 Iowa .........: 380 395 440 190 175 199 0 0 1 Kansas .......: 1,250 1,230 1,220 990 1,090 1,055 10 10 5 Nebraska .....: 1,440 1,340 1,520 910 865 895 10 15 15 Oklahoma .....: 220 205 210 145 165 165 0 0 0 South Dakota .: 115 97 129 92 92 107 28 16 24 Texas ........: 1,650 1,560 1,750 1,029 1,079 1,089 1 1 1 Washington ...: 94 105 132 71 71 72 1 1 8 : Other States .: 263 254 293 141 127 137 1 1 2 : United States : 6,877 6,601 7,180 4,068 4,123 4,260 63 55 77 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 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 IL, MN, NM, OR, and WY. 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 0.05 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 11.5 million head by more than 0.05 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.09 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 18,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 6 times and has been below the latest estimate 4 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 ...............: 0.05 0.09 3 0 18 4 6 : Placements ...................: 0.16 0.28 1 0 9 3 4 : Marketings ...................: 0.29 0.51 2 0 21 7 4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter (515) 284-4340 Joe Gaynor - Dairy Products Prices (202) 690-2168 Jason Hardegree - Cattle, Cattle on Feed (202) 720-3040 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows (202) 720-3278 Everett Olbert - Sheep and Goats (202) 720-4751 Nick Streff - Hogs and Pigs (202) 720-3106 Lorie Warren - Dairy Products (202) 690-3236 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. To set-up this free subscription, visit http://www.nass.usda.gov and in the "Receive NASS Updates" box under "Receive reports by Email," click on "National" or "State" to select the reports you would like to receive. Printed reports may be purchased from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) by calling toll-free (800) 999-6779, or (703) 605-6220 if calling from outside the United States or Canada. Accepted methods of payment are Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order. 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@nass.usda.gov. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic information, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377- 8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.