Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released July 22, 2011, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Up 4 Percent Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.5 million head on July 1, 2011. The inventory was 4 percent above July 1, 2010. The inventory included 6.52 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 3.89 million head, up 3 percent from 2010. Placements in feedlots during June totaled 1.70 million, 4 percent above 2010. Net placements were 1.63 million head. During June, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 460,000, 600-699 pounds were 380,000, 700-799 pounds were 420,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 435,000. Marketings of fed cattle during June totaled 2.10 million, 5 percent above 2010. Other disappearance totaled 70,000 during June, 27 percent above 2010. United States All Cattle on Feed Up 3 Percent Cattle on feed July 1, 2011, from all feedlots in the United States, totaled 12.2 million, up 3 percent from the 11.9 million on July 1, 2010. Cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 or more head accounted for 86 percent of the total cattle on feed on July 1, 2011, up from 85 percent last year. Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: July 1, 2010 and 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2010 : 2011 :previous year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed June 1 ......................: 10,495 10,928 104 Placed on feed during June ..........: 1,628 1,695 104 Fed cattle marketed during June .....: 1,997 2,102 105 Other disappearance during June .....: 55 70 127 On feed July 1 ......................: 10,071 10,451 104 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: June 1, 2010 and 2011 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2010 : 2011 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed May 1 ..........................: 10,428 11,200 107 Placed on feed during May ..............: 2,030 1,810 89 Fed cattle marketed during May .........: 1,865 2,002 107 Other disappearance during May .........: 98 80 82 On feed June 1 .........................: 10,495 10,928 104 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: July 1, 2010 and 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2010 : 2011 :previous year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head --- percent : Class on Feed July 1 : Steers and Steer Calves ...........: 6,255 6,516 104 Heifers and Heifer Calves .........: 3,766 3,894 103 Cows and Bulls ....................: 50 41 82 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Number on Feed - United States: July 1, 2010 and 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of State :---------------------------: : 2010 : 2011 :previous year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head ---- percent : United States .......................: 11,900 12,200 103 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2010 and 2011 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : July 1, 2011 : : :----------------------------------------- State : July 1, 2010 : June 1, 2011 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : -------------- 1,000 head ------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ........: 255 290 287 113 99 California .....: 430 460 470 109 102 Colorado .......: 920 1,080 1,000 109 93 Idaho ..........: 200 230 215 108 93 Iowa ...........: 570 610 590 104 97 Kansas .........: 2,010 2,110 2,030 101 96 Nebraska .......: 2,000 2,190 2,020 101 92 Oklahoma .......: 350 355 350 100 99 South Dakota ...: 215 235 210 98 89 Texas ..........: 2,590 2,780 2,700 104 97 Washington .....: 168 199 200 119 101 : Other States ...: 363 389 379 104 97 : United States ..: 10,071 10,928 10,451 104 96 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2010 and 2011 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2011 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2010 : May 2011 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 21 28 25 119 89 California .......: 64 71 70 109 99 Colorado .........: 125 140 105 84 75 Idaho ............: 34 36 34 100 94 Iowa .............: 57 47 64 112 136 Kansas ...........: 365 375 390 107 104 Nebraska .........: 310 340 310 100 91 Oklahoma .........: 66 66 62 94 94 South Dakota .....: 23 33 31 135 94 Texas ............: 470 560 500 106 89 Washington .......: 32 39 41 128 105 : Other States .....: 61 75 63 103 84 : United States ....: 1,628 1,810 1,695 104 94 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2010 and 2011 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : During June :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : 1,000 head : Colorado .....: 20 20 20 25 30 30 55 30 125 105 Kansas .......: 65 75 80 95 115 120 105 100 365 390 Nebraska .....: 60 50 50 60 70 70 130 130 310 310 Texas ........: 175 210 105 130 125 120 65 40 470 500 : Other States .: 120 105 45 70 68 80 125 135 358 390 : United States : 440 460 300 380 408 420 480 435 1,628 1,695 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : During May :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Colorado .....: 25 30 25 25 45 35 90 50 185 140 Kansas .......: 60 65 80 70 130 110 150 130 420 375 Nebraska .....: 55 50 70 55 105 80 150 155 380 340 Texas ........: 180 170 180 150 170 165 90 75 620 560 : Other States .: 130 100 55 55 85 90 155 150 425 395 : United States : 450 415 410 355 535 480 635 560 2,030 1,810 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Number of Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2010 and 2011 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2011 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2010 : May 2011 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 27 19 27 100 142 California .......: 56 59 58 104 98 Colorado .........: 170 150 175 103 117 Idaho ............: 43 35 47 109 134 Iowa .............: 75 73 80 107 110 Kansas ...........: 475 420 460 97 110 Nebraska .........: 435 495 465 107 94 Oklahoma .........: 60 65 65 108 100 South Dakota .....: 36 50 46 128 92 Texas ............: 510 520 570 112 110 Washington .......: 42 44 39 93 89 : Other States .....: 68 72 70 103 97 : United States ....: 1,997 2,002 2,102 105 105 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2010 and 2011 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2011 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2010 : May 2011 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 2 1 1 50 100 California .......: 3 2 2 67 100 Colorado .........: 5 10 10 200 100 Idaho ............: 1 1 2 200 200 Iowa .............: 2 4 4 200 100 Kansas ...........: 10 15 10 100 67 Nebraska .........: 15 25 15 100 60 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 2 200 200 South Dakota .....: 2 3 10 500 333 Texas ............: 10 10 10 100 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 3 7 3 100 43 : United States ....: 55 80 70 127 88 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 : Jul 1, : Apr 1, : Jul 1, : Jul 1, : Apr 1, : Jul 1, :Jul 1, :Apr 1, :Jul 1, : 2010 : 2011 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2011 : 2010 : 2011 : 2011 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ......: 254 257 283 1 19 4 0 0 0 California ...: 425 390 410 5 59 60 0 1 0 Colorado .....: 635 740 690 280 345 305 5 5 5 Idaho ........: 115 120 110 77 94 104 8 6 1 Iowa .........: 400 460 410 170 190 180 0 0 0 Kansas .......: 1,030 1,220 1,070 970 965 955 10 5 5 Nebraska .....: 1,210 1,480 1,190 785 890 820 5 10 10 Oklahoma .....: 185 210 210 165 145 140 0 0 0 South Dakota .: 106 135 107 91 114 86 18 16 17 Texas ........: 1,550 1,690 1,640 1,039 1,090 1,059 1 0 1 Washington ...: 98 135 124 69 68 75 1 8 1 : Other States .: 247 281 272 114 122 106 2 1 1 : United States : 6,255 7,118 6,516 3,766 4,101 3,894 50 52 41 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 0.1 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 10.5 million head by more than 0.1 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.2 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 9,000 head, ranging from 0 to 30,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 9 times and has been below the latest estimate 10 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 0.2 9 0 30 10 9 : Placements ...................: 0.3 0.6 3 0 20 11 6 : Marketings ...................: 0.3 0.5 3 0 21 9 6 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 - Dairy Products Prices ....... (202) 690-2168 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ...... (515) 284-4340 Doug Bounds - Hogs and Pigs .................. (202) 720-3106 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 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. 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