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USDA Cattle on Feed 12/18
Cattle on Feed
ISSN: 1948-9080
Released December 18, 2020, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
United States Cattle on Feed Up Slightly
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for
feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 12.0 million head on
December 1, 2020. The inventory was slightly above December 1, 2019.
Placements in feedlots during November totaled 1.91 million head, 9 percent
below 2019. Net placements were
1.85 million head. During November, placements of cattle and calves weighing
less than 600 pounds were 520,000 head,
600-699 pounds were 460,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 400,000 head, 800-899
pounds were 306,000 head,
900-999 pounds were 130,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 90,000
head.
Marketings of fed cattle during November totaled 1.78 million head, 2 percent
below 2019.
Other disappearance totaled 61,000 head during November, 6 percent below
2019.
Cattle on Feed: Released December 18, 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: December 1, 2019 and 2020
Percent of
Item 2019 2020 previous year
(1,000 head) %
On feed November 1
11,816 11,973 101
Placed on feed during November
2,093 1,906 91
Fed cattle marketed during November
1,813 1,782 98
Other disappearance during November
65 61 94
On feed December 1
12,031 12,036 100
Cattle on Feed: Released December 18, 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: November 1, 2019 and 2020
Percent of
Item 2019 2020 previous year
(1,000 head) %
On feed October 1
11,288 11,717 104
Placed on feed during October
2,462 2,192 89
Fed cattle marketed during October
1,875 1,873 100
Other disappearance during October
59 63 107
On feed November 1
11,816 11,973 101
Cattle on Feed: Released December 18, 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
December 1, 2020
State December 1, 2019 November 1, 2020 Percent of
Inventory previous yearprevious month
(1,000 head) %
AZ 256 258 256 100 99
CA 550 555 555 101 100
CO 1,100 1,120 1,130 103 101
ID 300 280 290 97 104
IA 690 620 610 88 98
KS 2,430 2,520 2,500 103 99
MN 140 125 125 89 100
NE 2,480 2,500 2,530 102 101
OK 325 320 325 100 102
SD 250 225 250 100 111
TX 2,930 2,910 2,900 99 100
WA 240 245 255 106 104
OtrSt 340 295 310 91 105
US 12,031 11,973 12,036 100 101
Cattle on Feed: Released December 18, 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 November 2020
During
State November 2019 October 2020 Percent of
Placements previous yearprevious month
(1,000 head) %
AZ 27 27 22 81 81
CA 64 66 58 91 88
CO 185 175 165 89 94
ID 56 53 50 89 94
IA 110 105 83 75 79
KS 415 430 415 100 97
MN 25 35 16 64 46
NE 520 560 460 88 82
OK 58 51 52 90 102
SD 75 84 79 105 94
TX 465 480 405 87 84
WA 42 61 45 107 74
OtrSt 51 65 56 110 86
US 2,093 2,192 1,906 91 87
Cattle on Feed: Released December 18, 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 November 2019
State
Under 600 lbs 6-699 lbs 7-799 lbs 8-899 lbs 900+lbs 1/ 9-999 lbs 1,000+lbs Total
(1,000 head)
CO 60 40 30 30 25 (D) (D) 185
KS 60 105 125 80 45 (D) (D) 415
NE 100 120 100 90 110 (D) (D) 520
TX 200 120 85 45 15 (D) (D) 465
OtrSt 200 115 83 65 45 (D) (D) 508
US 620 500 423 310 (X) 130 110 2,093
During October 2020
State
Under 600 lbs 6-699 lbs 7-799 lbs 8-899 lbs 900+lbs 1/ 9-999 lbs 1,000+lbs Total
(1,000 head)
CO 35 30 35 40 35 (D) (D) 175
KS 65 90 140 90 45 (D) (D) 430
NE 120 125 90 110 115 (D) (D) 560
TX 170 125 115 55 15 (D) (D) 480
OtrSt 180 125 85 92 65 (D) (D) 547
US 570 495 465 387 (X) 185 90 2,192
During November 2020
State
Under 600 lbs 6-699 lbs 7-799 lbs 8-899 lbs 900+lbs 1/ 9-999 lbs 1,000+lbs Total
(1,000 head)
CO 50 35 30 30 20 (D) (D) 165
KS 60 100 125 85 45 (D) (D) 415
NE 80 110 90 85 95 (D) (D) 460
TX 150 115 80 45 15 (D) (D) 405
OtrSt 180 100 75 61 45 (D) (D) 461
US 520 460 400 306 (X) 130 90 1,906
(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 December 18, 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 November 2020
During
State November 2019 October 2020 Percent of
Marketings previous yearprevious month
(1,000 head) %
AZ 26 25 23 88 92
CA 47 49 51 109 104
CO 150 160 150 100 94
ID 44 41 39 89 95
IA 76 92 91 120 99
KS 395 440 425 108 97
MN 14 14 15 107 107
NE 475 460 415 87 90
OK 57 45 46 81 102
SD 64 48 53 83 110
TX 390 420 400 103 95
WA 35 35 34 97 97
OtrSt 40 44 40 100 91
US 1,813 1,873 1,782 98 95
Cattle on Feed: Released December 18, 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 November 2020
During
State November 2019 October 2020 Other Percent of
disappearance previous yearprevious month
(1,000 head) %
AZ 1 1 1 100 100
CA 7 7 7 100 100
CO 5 5 5 100 100
ID 2 2 1 50 50
IA 4 3 2 50 67
KS 10 10 10 100 100
MN 1 1 1 100 100
NE 15 10 15 100 150
OK 1 1 1 100 100
SD 1 1 1 100 100
TX 15 20 15 100 75
WA 2 1 1 50 100
OtrSt 1 1 1 100 100
US 65 63 61 94 97
Cattle on Feed: Released December 18, 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
erage 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 12.0 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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