Cattle on Feed

Cattle on Feed

ISSN: 1948-9080

Released September 22, 2023, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service 
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA).

United States Cattle on Feed Down 2 Percent

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for 
feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.1 million head on 
September 1, 2023. The inventory was 2 percent below September 1, 2022.

Placements in feedlots during August totaled 2.00 million head, 5 percent 
below 2022. Net placements were 1.95 million head. During August, placements 
of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 420,000 head, 
600-699 pounds were 305,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 455,000 head, 
800-899 pounds were 488,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 245,000 head, and 
1,000 pounds and greater were 90,000 head.

Marketings of fed cattle during August totaled 1.88 million head, 6 percent 
below 2022.

Other disappearance totaled 55,000 head during August, 4 percent above 2022.

Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on
1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: September 1, 2022 and 2023
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        :             :             :  Percent of  
                  Item                  :    2022     :    2023     :previous year 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        :   ---- 1,000 head ----        percent    
                                        :                                          
On feed August 1 .......................:   11,289        11,030           98      
Placed on feed during August ...........:    2,110         2,003           95      
Fed cattle marketed during August ......:    2,004         1,884           94      
Other disappearance during August ......:       53            55          104      
On feed September 1 ....................:   11,342        11,094           98      
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on
1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: August 1, 2022 and 2023
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        :             :             :  Percent of  
                  Item                  :    2022     :    2023     :previous year 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        :   ---- 1,000 head ----        percent    
                                        :                                          
On feed July 1 .........................:   11,405        11,204           98      
Placed on feed during July .............:    1,764         1,613           91      
Fed cattle marketed during July ........:    1,824         1,722           94      
Other disappearance during July ........:       56            65          116      
On feed August 1 .......................:   11,289        11,030           98      
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States:
2022 and 2023
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :                 :                 :             September 1, 2023              
                  :                 :                 :--------------------------------------------
       State      :September 1, 2022: August 1, 2023  :              :  Percent of  :  Percent of  
                  :                 :                 :  Inventory   :previous year :previous month
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :     --------------- 1,000 head --------------          ----- percent ----      
                  :                                                                                
Arizona ..........:        277               245              244           88            100      
California .......:        520               525              515           99             98      
Colorado .........:      1,030               980              950           92             97      
Idaho ............:        275               280              285          104            102      
Iowa .............:        610               620              620          102            100      
Kansas ...........:      2,380             2,350            2,410          101            103      
Minnesota ........:         90                95               95          106            100      
Nebraska .........:      2,370             2,280            2,270           96            100      
Oklahoma .........:        280               255              265           95            104      
South Dakota .....:        175               170              170           97            100      
Texas ............:      2,820             2,720            2,740           97            101      
Washington .......:        240               235              245          102            104      
                  :                                                                                
Other States .....:        275               275              285          104            104      
                  :                                                                                
United States ....:     11,342            11,030           11,094           98            101      
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States:
2022 and 2023
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :              :              :             During August 2023             
                  :    During    :    During    :--------------------------------------------
       State      : August 2022  :  July 2023   :              :  Percent of  :  Percent of  
                  :              :              :  Placements  :previous year :previous month
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :    ------------ 1,000 head -----------           ----- percent ----      
                  :                                                                          
Arizona ..........:       22             21             21            95            100      
California .......:       51             44             48            94            109      
Colorado .........:      175            115            125            71            109      
Idaho ............:       45             33             48           107            145      
Iowa .............:       81             51             75            93            147      
Kansas ...........:      535            410            550           103            134      
Minnesota ........:       18              9             13            72            144      
Nebraska .........:      570            425            510            89            120      
Oklahoma .........:       49             38             43            88            113      
South Dakota .....:       43             21             35            81            167      
Texas ............:      430            375            440           102            117      
Washington .......:       40             33             45           113            136      
                  :                                                                          
Other States .....:       51             38             50            98            132      
                  :                                                                          
United States ....:    2,110          1,613          2,003            95            124      
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2022 and 2023
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :                                                  During August 2022                                                   
               :-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     State     :Under 600 lbs : 600-699 lbs  : 700-799 lbs  : 800-899 lbs  : 900+ lbs 1/  : 900-999 lbs  :  1,000+ lbs  :    Total     
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :  1,000 head     1,000 head     1,000 head     1,000 head     1,000 head     1,000 head     1,000 head     1,000 head  
               :                                                                                                                       
Colorado ......:      30             30             35             45             35            (D)            (D)             175     
Kansas ........:      65            100            170            135             65            (D)            (D)             535     
Nebraska ......:      45             50            110            190            175            (D)            (D)             570     
Texas .........:     190            100             80             50             10            (D)            (D)             430     
               :                                                                                                                       
Other States ..:     100             40             70            110             80            (D)            (D)             400     
               :                                                                                                                       
United States .:     430            320            465            530            (X)            270             95           2,110     

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :                                                   During July 2023                                                    
               :-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     State     :Under 600 lbs : 600-699 lbs  : 700-799 lbs  : 800-899 lbs  : 900+ lbs 1/  : 900-999 lbs  :  1,000+ lbs  :    Total     
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :  1,000 head     1,000 head     1,000 head     1,000 head     1,000 head     1,000 head     1,000 head     1,000 head  
               :                                                                                                                       
Colorado ......:      25             20             25             25             20            (D)            (D)             115     
Kansas ........:      55             70            125            105             55            (D)            (D)             410     
Nebraska ......:      35             50             95            130            115            (D)            (D)             425     
Texas .........:     170             80             70             40             15            (D)            (D)             375     
               :                                                                                                                       
Other States ..:      80             30             55             68             55            (D)            (D)             288     
               :                                                                                                                       
United States .:     365            250            370            368            (X)            185             75           1,613     

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :                                                  During August 2023                                                   
               :-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     State     :Under 600 lbs : 600-699 lbs  : 700-799 lbs  : 800-899 lbs  : 900+ lbs 1/  : 900-999 lbs  :  1,000+ lbs  :    Total     
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               :  1,000 head     1,000 head     1,000 head     1,000 head     1,000 head     1,000 head     1,000 head     1,000 head  
               :                                                                                                                       
Colorado ......:      25             20             25             30             25            (D)            (D)             125     
Kansas ........:      65            100            175            145             65            (D)            (D)             550     
Nebraska ......:      45             45            100            160            160            (D)            (D)             510     
Texas .........:     190            100             85             55             10            (D)            (D)             440     
               :                                                                                                                       
Other States ..:      95             40             70             98             75            (D)            (D)             378     
               :                                                                                                                       
United States .:     420            305            455            488            (X)            245             90           2,003     
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.                                                                       
(X) Not applicable.                                                                                                                    
1/  The 900 pounds and greater weight group is the sum of 900-999 pounds and 1,000 pounds and greater weight groups.                   

Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States:
2022 and 2023
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :              :              :             During August 2023             
                  :    During    :    During    :--------------------------------------------
       State      : August 2022  :  July 2023   :              :  Percent of  :  Percent of  
                  :              :              :  Marketings  :previous year :previous month
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :    ------------ 1,000 head -----------           ----- percent ----      
                  :                                                                          
Arizona ..........:       23             24             21            91             88      
California .......:       69             51             51            74            100      
Colorado .........:      180            120            150            83            125      
Idaho ............:       44             46             42            95             91      
Iowa .............:       80             59             74            93            125      
Kansas ...........:      485            450            480            99            107      
Minnesota ........:       12             13             12           100             92      
Nebraska .........:      510            460            510           100            111      
Oklahoma .........:       42             32             32            76            100      
South Dakota .....:       31             29             34           110            117      
Texas ............:      450            360            405            90            113      
Washington .......:       34             37             34           100             92      
                  :                                                                          
Other States .....:       44             41             39            89             95      
                  :                                                                          
United States ....:    2,004          1,722          1,884            94            109      
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States:
2022 and 2023
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :              :              :             During August 2023             
                  :    During    :    During    :--------------------------------------------
       State      : August 2022  :  July 2023   :    Other     :  Percent of  :  Percent of  
                  :              :              :disappearance :previous year :previous month
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :      ---------- 1,000 head ----------            ----- percent ----      
                  :                                                                          
Arizona ..........:       1              1              1            100            100      
California .......:       7              8              7            100             88      
Colorado .........:       5              5              5            100            100      
Idaho ............:       1              2              1            100             50      
Iowa .............:       1              2              1            100             50      
Kansas ...........:      10             10             10            100            100      
Minnesota ........:       1              1              1            100            100      
Nebraska .........:      10             15             10            100             67      
Oklahoma .........:       2              1              1             50            100      
South Dakota .....:       2              2              1             50             50      
Texas ............:      10             15             15            150            100      
Washington .......:       1              1              1            100            100      
                  :                                                                          
Other States .....:       2              2              1             50             50      
                  :                                                                          
United States ....:      53             65             55            104             85      
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Terms and Definitions of Cattle on Feed Estimates

Cattle on feed are steers and heifers 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 steers and heifers 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 steers and heifers 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.

Statistical Methodology

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 12 of the 16 States. 
Data collected from the remaining 4 States are used to establish the "Other 
States" estimates. These 4 States include Illinois, 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 Regional Field Offices. 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 0.3 percent. This means that chances are 
2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current 
estimate of 11.1 million head by more than 0.3 percent. Chances are 9 out of 
10 that the difference will not exceed 0.5 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 21,000 head, 
ranging from 0 to 65,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has 
been above the latest estimate 0 times and has been below the latest estimate 
14 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 -----       
                              :                                                                                           
On feed ......................:     0.3            0.5          21         0        65           14               0       
                              :                                                                                           
Placements ...................:     0.5            0.9           6         0        23            9               9       
                              :                                                                                           
Marketings ...................:     0.1            0.2           1         0         5            3               7       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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@usda.gov.

Travis Averill, Chief, Livestock Branch ....................................................... (202) 692-0069

Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ......................................................... (202) 690-2424
   Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter .................................................... (202) 690-8632
   Ryan Cowen - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ........................................................ (202) 720-3040
   Kim DaPra - Milk Production and Milk Cows .................................................. (512) 501-3266
   Donnie Fike - Dairy Products ............................................................... (202) 690-3347
   Anthony Fischer - Hogs and Pigs............................................................. (202) 720-3106
   Suzanne Richards - Sheep and Goats ......................................................... (202) 720-4448

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