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USDA Cattle on Feed 10/23
Cattle on Feed
ISSN: 1948-9080
Released October 23, 2020, 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 the slaughter market in the United States for
feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.7 million head on
October 1, 2020. The inventory was 4 percent above October 1, 2019. This is
the highest October 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. The inventory
included 7.31 million steers and steer calves, up 6 percent from the previous
year. This group accounted for 62 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and
heifer calves accounted for 4.41 million head, down slightly from 2019.
Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.23 million head, 6 percent
above 2019. Net placements were
2.17 million head. During September, placements of cattle and calves weighing
less than 600 pounds were 445,000 head,
600-699 pounds were 360,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 500,000 head, 800-899
pounds were 517,000 head,
900-999 pounds were 300,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 105,000
head.
Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.85 million head,
6 percent above 2019.
Other disappearance totaled 58,000 head during September, 2 percent below
2019.
Cattle on Feed: Released October 23, 2020, by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on
1,000+ Capacity Feedlots United States: October 1, 2019 and 2020
Percent of
Item 2019 2020 previous year
(1,000 head) %
On feed September 1
10,982 11,394 104
Placed on feed during September
2,103 2,227 106
Fed cattle marketed during September
1,738 1,846 106
Other disappearance during September
59 58 98
On feed October 1
11,288 11,717 104
Cattle on Feed: Released October 23, 2020, by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on
1,000+ Capacity Feedlots United States: September 1, 2019 and 2020
Percent of
Item 2019 2020 previous year
(1,000 head) %
On feed August 1
11,112 11,284 102
Placed on feed during August
1,884 2,057 109
Fed cattle marketed during August
1,953 1,892 97
Other disappearance during August
61 55 90
On feed September 1
10,982 11,394 104
Cattle on Feed: Released October 23, 2020, by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots United States: October 1,
2019 and 2020
Percent of
Item
2019 2020 previous year inventory
(1,000 head) %
Class on feed October 1
Steers and steer calves
6,868 7,312 106 62
Heifers and heifer calves
4,420 4,405 100 38
Cattle on Feed: Released October 23, 2020, by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month States and
United States: 2019 and 2020
October 1, 2020
StateOctober 1, 2019 September 1, 2020 Percent of
Inventory previous yearprevious month
(1,000 head) %
AZ 253 264 257 102 97
CA 525 535 545 104 102
CO 990 1,040 1,110 112 107
ID 275 255 270 98 106
IA 640 610 610 95 100
KS 2,380 2,470 2,540 107 103
MN 105 110 105 100 95
NE 2,270 2,280 2,410 106 106
OK 315 310 315 100 102
SD 210 190 190 90 100
TX 2,790 2,850 2,870 103 101
WA 225 220 220 98 100
OtrSt 310 260 275 89 106
US 11,288 11,394 11,717 104 103
Cattle on Feed: Released October 23, 2020, by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month States and United
States: 2019 and 2020
During September 2020
During
State September 2019 August 2020 Percent of
Placements previous yearprevious month
(1,000 head) %
AZ 16 15 16 100 107
CA 50 52 68 136 131
CO 240 180 245 102 136
ID 58 41 54 93 132
IA 82 75 72 88 96
KS 435 540 490 113 91
MN 22 12 19 86 158
NE 530 505 600 113 119
OK 46 58 62 135 107
SD 53 47 45 85 96
TX 465 440 450 97 102
WA 46 40 45 98 113
OtrSt 60 52 61 102 117
US 2,103 2,057 2,227 106 108
Cattle on Feed: Released October 23, 2020, by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month
States and United States: 2019 and 2020
During September 2019
State
Under 600lbs 600-699lbs 700-799lbs 800-899lbs 900+lbs1/ 900-999lbs 1,000+lbs Ttl
(1,000 head)
CO 30 25 50 70 65 (D) (D) 240
KS 60 90 130 100 55 (D) (D) 435
NE 50 60 95 150 175 (D) (D) 530
TX 170 130 105 50 10 (D) (D) 465
OtrSt 120 50 80 105 78 (D) (D) 433
US 430 355 460 475 (X) 273 110 2,103
During August 2020
State
Under 600lbs 600-699lbs 700-799lbs 800-899lbs 900+lbs1/ 900-999lbs 1,000+lbs Ttl
(1,000 head)
CO 25 30 35 50 40 (D) (D) 180
KS 60 100 170 150 60 (D) (D) 540
NE 45 50 105 165 140 (D) (D) 505
TX 180 110 90 50 10 (D) (D) 440
OtrSt 95 45 70 107 75 (D) (D) 392
US 405 335 470 522 (X) 230 95 2,057
During September 2020
State
Under 600lbs 600-699lbs 700-799lbs 800-899lbs 900+lbs1/ 900-999lbs 1,000+lbs Ttl
(1,000 head)
CO 30 30 55 65 65 (D) (D) 245
KS 65 95 155 115 60 (D) (D) 490
NE 55 60 115 180 190 (D) (D) 600
TX 175 125 95 45 10 (D) (D) 450
OtrSt 120 50 80 112 80 (D) (D) 442
US 445 360 500 517 (X) 300 105 2,227
(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 on Feed: Released October 23, 2020, by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month States and United States:
2019 and 2020
During September 2020
During
State September 2019 August 2020 Percent of
Marketings previous yearprevious month
(1,000 head) %
AZ 19 19 22 116 116
CA 50 54 49 98 91
CO 175 155 170 97 110
ID 50 45 38 76 84
IA 70 83 70 100 84
KS 385 470 410 106 87
MN 16 21 23 144 110
NE 410 435 460 112 106
OK 44 52 56 127 108
SD 46 34 44 96 129
TX 390 430 415 106 97
WA 40 44 44 110 100
OtrSt 43 50 45 105 90
US 1,738 1,892 1,846 106 98
Cattle on Feed: Released October 23, 2020, by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month States and
United States: 2019 and 2020
During September 2020
During
State September 2019 August 2020 Other Percent of
disappearance previous yearprevious month
(1,000 head) %
AZ 1 1 1 100 100
CA 5 8 9 180 113
CO 5 5 5 100 100
ID 3 1 1 33 100
IA 2 2 2 100 100
KS 10 10 10 100 100
MN 1 1 1 100 100
NE 10 10 10 100 100
OK 2 1 1 50 100
SD 2 3 1 50 33
TX 15 10 15 100 150
WA 1 1 1 100 100
OtrSt 2 2 1 50 50
US 59 55 58 98 105
Cattle on Feed: Released October 23, 2020, by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter States and
United States: 2019 and 2020
Steers and steer calves Heifers and heifer calves
State Oct 1, Jul 1, Oct 1, Jul 1, Oct 1,
2019 2020 2019 2020
(1,000 Head)
AZ 248 268 252 5 5 5
CA 455 465 465 70 80 80
CO 520 560 645 470 460 465
ID 180 170 150 95 110 120
IA 440 465 460 200 165 150
KS 1,270 1,280 1,380 1,110 1,110 1,160
MN 90 105 90 15 20 15
NE 1,360 1,380 1,500 910 880 910
OK 175 160 175 140 155 140
SD 120 115 115 90 70 75
TX 1,690 1,750 1,780 1,100 1,170 1,090
WA 130 135 120 95 90 100
OtrSt 190 180 180 120 90 95
US 6,868 7,033 7,312 4,420 4,405 4,405
Cattle on Feed: Released October 23, 2020, by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Reliability of Monthly Cattle on Feed Estimates
[Based on data for the past 24 months]
mean90 percent Difference between first and latest estimate
square confidence
error
level
Item Months
Average Smallest Largest Below latest Above latest
% (1,000) (number)
On feed
0.1 0.1 4 0 15 2 8
Placements
0.3 0.5 3 0 15 6 3
Marketings
0.2 0.4 1 0 15 1 1
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 0.1 percent. This means that chances are
2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current
estimate of 11.7 million head by more than 0.1 percent. Chances are 9 out of
10 that the difference will not exceed 0.1 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 4,000 head,
ranging from 0 to 15,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has
been above the latest estimate 8 times and has been below the latest estimate
2 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 ......................: 0.1 0.1 4 0
15 2 8
:
Placements ...................: 0.3 0.5 3 0
15 6 3
:
Marketings ...................: 0.2 0.4 1 0
15 1 1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------
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
Holly Brenize - Sheep and Goats .............. (202) 720-0585
Ryan Cowen - Cattle, Cattle on Feed .......... (202) 720-3040
Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278
Suzanne Richards - Dairy Products ............ (202) 720-4448
Seth Riggins - Hogs and Pigs ................. (202) 720-3106
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