Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released July 20, 2012, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Up 3 Percent Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.7 million head on July 1, 2012. The inventory was 3 percent above July 1, 2011. The inventory included 6.74 million steers and steer calves, up 4 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 63 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.92 million head, up 1 percent from 2011. Placements in feedlots during June totaled 1.66 million, 2 percent below 2011. Net placements were 1.60 million head. During June, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 460,000, 600-699 pounds were 320,000, 700-799 pounds were 390,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 494,000. Marketings of fed cattle during June totaled 1.97 million, 6 percent below 2011. This is the lowest fed cattle marketings for the month of June since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 66,000 during June, 8 percent below 2011. United States All Cattle on Feed Up 1 Percent Cattle on feed July 1, 2012, from all feedlots in the United States, totaled 12.3 million, up 1 percent from the 12.2 million on July 1, 2011. Cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 or more head accounted for 87 percent of the total cattle on feed on July 1, 2012, up from 86 percent last year. Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: July 1, 2011 and 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2011 : 2012 :previous year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed June 1 ......................: 10,902 11,077 102 Placed on feed during June ..........: 1,695 1,664 98 Fed cattle marketed during June .....: 2,092 1,965 94 Other disappearance during June .....: 72 66 92 On feed July 1 ......................: 10,433 10,710 103 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: June 1, 2011 and 2012 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2011 : 2012 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed May 1 ..........................: 11,175 11,110 99 Placed on feed during May ..............: 1,810 2,084 115 Fed cattle marketed during May .........: 2,002 2,017 101 Other disappearance during May .........: 81 100 123 On feed June 1 .........................: 10,902 11,077 102 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: July 1, 2011 and 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of Item :---------------------------: : 2011 : 2012 :previous year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head --- percent : Class on Feed July 1 : Steers and Steer Calves ...........: 6,502 6,736 104 Heifers and Heifer Calves .........: 3,890 3,918 101 Cows and Bulls ....................: 41 56 137 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Number on Feed - United States: July 1, 2011 and 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : Number : Percent of State :---------------------------: : 2011 : 2012 :previous year -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 Head ---- percent : United States .......................: 12,200 12,300 101 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2011 and 2012 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : July 1, 2012 : : :----------------------------------------- State : July 1, 2011 : June 1, 2012 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : -------------- 1,000 head ------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ........: 287 282 279 97 99 California .....: 470 490 480 102 98 Colorado .......: 1,000 1,020 970 97 95 Idaho ..........: 215 210 200 93 95 Iowa ...........: 590 640 620 105 97 Kansas .........: 2,030 2,090 2,050 101 98 Nebraska .......: 2,020 2,360 2,270 112 96 Oklahoma .......: 350 320 320 91 100 South Dakota ...: 210 230 210 100 91 Texas ..........: 2,690 2,770 2,670 99 96 Washington .....: 192 220 210 109 95 : Other States ...: 379 445 431 114 97 : United States ..: 10,433 11,077 10,710 103 97 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2011 and 2012 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2012 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2011 : May 2012 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 25 36 28 112 78 California .......: 70 70 49 70 70 Colorado .........: 105 180 125 119 69 Idaho ............: 34 29 34 100 117 Iowa .............: 64 59 61 95 103 Kansas ...........: 390 445 390 100 88 Nebraska .........: 310 460 385 124 84 Oklahoma .........: 62 81 53 85 65 South Dakota .....: 31 35 28 90 80 Texas ............: 500 580 420 84 72 Washington .......: 41 43 36 88 84 : Other States .....: 63 66 55 87 83 : United States ....: 1,695 2,084 1,664 98 80 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2011 and 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : During June :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ : 1,000 head : Colorado .....: 20 25 25 20 30 40 30 40 105 125 Kansas .......: 75 95 95 80 120 110 100 105 390 390 Nebraska .....: 50 70 60 70 70 90 130 155 310 385 Texas ........: 210 180 130 100 120 75 40 65 500 420 : Other States .: 105 90 70 50 80 75 135 129 390 344 : United States : 460 460 380 320 420 390 435 494 1,695 1,664 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : During May :--------------------------------------------------------------------- State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 :--------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 head : Colorado .....: 30 35 25 30 35 45 50 70 140 180 Kansas .......: 65 90 70 90 110 130 130 135 375 445 Nebraska .....: 50 70 55 60 80 130 155 200 340 460 Texas ........: 170 220 150 125 165 140 75 95 560 580 : Other States .: 100 105 55 60 90 85 150 169 395 419 : United States : 415 520 355 365 480 530 560 669 1,810 2,084 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Number of Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2011 and 2012 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2012 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2011 : May 2012 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 27 29 30 111 103 California .......: 58 53 56 97 106 Colorado .........: 175 170 170 97 100 Idaho ............: 47 32 43 91 134 Iowa .............: 80 64 77 96 120 Kansas ...........: 460 415 415 90 100 Nebraska .........: 465 540 465 100 86 Oklahoma .........: 65 54 51 78 94 South Dakota .....: 46 45 47 102 104 Texas ............: 560 500 500 89 100 Washington .......: 39 46 45 115 98 : Other States .....: 70 69 66 94 96 : United States ....: 2,092 2,017 1,965 94 97 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2011 and 2012 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During June 2012 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : June 2011 : May 2012 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Number :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 2 2 3 150 150 Colorado .........: 10 20 5 50 25 Idaho ............: 2 2 1 50 50 Iowa .............: 4 5 4 100 80 Kansas ...........: 10 20 15 150 75 Nebraska .........: 15 20 10 67 50 Oklahoma .........: 2 2 2 100 100 South Dakota .....: 10 5 1 10 20 Texas ............: 10 20 20 200 100 Washington .......: 3 1 1 33 100 : Other States .....: 3 2 3 100 150 : United States ....: 72 100 66 92 66 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States: 2011 and 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 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, : 2011 : 2012 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2012 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : 1,000 Head : Arizona ......: 283 274 265 4 4 14 0 0 0 California ...: 410 425 415 60 65 64 0 0 1 Colorado .....: 690 730 645 305 335 320 5 5 5 Idaho ........: 110 131 127 104 92 69 1 2 4 Iowa .........: 410 480 445 180 189 175 0 1 0 Kansas .......: 1,070 1,180 1,070 955 985 975 5 5 5 Nebraska .....: 1,190 1,530 1,360 820 980 890 10 20 20 Oklahoma .....: 210 200 200 140 120 120 0 0 0 South Dakota .: 107 138 121 86 100 71 17 17 18 Texas ........: 1,630 1,610 1,630 1,059 1,169 1,039 1 1 1 Washington ...: 120 143 133 71 88 76 1 2 1 : Other States .: 272 333 325 106 127 105 1 1 1 : United States : 6,502 7,174 6,736 3,890 4,254 3,918 41 54 56 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 0.2 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 10.7 million head by more than 0.1 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.3 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 13,000 head, ranging from 0 to 47,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 13 times and has been below the latest estimate 6 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 ...............: 0.2 0.3 13 0 47 6 13 : Placements ...................: 0.3 0.5 3 0 18 7 9 : Marketings ...................: 0.3 0.5 3 0 20 7 5 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ...... (515) 284-4340 Doug Bounds - Hogs and Pigs .................. (202) 720-3106 Donnie Fike - Dairy Products ................. (202) 690-3236 Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278 Vacant - Sheep and Goats ..................... (202) 720-4751 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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