ISSN: 1948-9080
Released April 24, 2015, 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 slaughter market in the United States for
feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.8 million head on
April 1, 2015. The inventory was slightly above April 1, 2014. The inventory
included 7.46 million steers and steer calves, up 5 percent from the previous
year. This group accounted for 69 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and
heifer calves accounted for 3.34 million head, down 10 percent from 2014.
Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.81 million, slightly above
2014. Net placements were 1.74 million head. During March, placements of
cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 365,000, 600-699 pounds
were 275,000, 700-799 pounds were 449,000, and 800 pounds and greater were
720,000.
Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.63 million, 2 percent below
2014. March marketings are the lowest since the series began in 1996.
Other disappearance totaled 69,000 during March, 6 percent above 2014.
Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on
1,000+ Capacity Feedlots – United States: April 1, 2014 and 2015
———————————————————————————–
: Number : Percent of
Item :—————————:
: 2014 : 2015 :previous year
———————————————————————————–
: —- 1,000 head —- percent
:
On feed March 1 ……………………: 10,716 10,688 100
Placed on feed during March …………: 1,801 1,809 100
Fed cattle marketed during March …….: 1,660 1,631 98
Other disappearance during March …….: 65 69 106
On feed April 1 ……………………: 10,792 10,797 100
———————————————————————————–
Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on
1,000+ Capacity Feedlots – United States: March 1, 2014 and 2015
———————————————————————————–
: Number : Percent of
Item :—————————:
: 2014 : 2015 :previous year
———————————————————————————–
: —- 1,000 head —- percent
:
On feed February 1 …………………: 10,678 10,713 100
Placed on feed during February ………: 1,658 1,551 94
Fed cattle marketed during February ….: 1,549 1,516 98
Other disappearance during February ….: 71 60 85
On feed March 1 ……………………: 10,716 10,688 100
———————————————————————————–
Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots – United States:
April 1, 2014 and 2015
———————————————————————————–
: Number : Percent of
Item :—————————:
: 2014 : 2015 :previous year
———————————————————————————–
: —- 1,000 Head — percent
:
Class on feed April 1 :
Steers and steer calves …………..: 7,075 7,455 105
Heifers and heifer calves …………: 3,717 3,342 90
———————————————————————————–
Number of Cattle on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month – States and United States:
2014 and 2015
—————————————————————————————————
: : : April 1, 2015
: : :——————————————–
State : April 1, 2014 : March 1, 2015 : : Percent of : Percent of
: : : Number :previous year :previous month
—————————————————————————————————
: ————— 1,000 head ————– —– percent —-
:
Arizona ……….: 277 243 241 87 99
California …….: 475 440 445 94 101
Colorado ………: 950 890 890 94 100
Idaho …………: 205 230 230 112 100
Iowa ………….: 670 660 670 100 102
Kansas ………..: 2,090 2,080 2,110 101 101
Minnesota ……..: 135 145 146 108 101
Nebraska ………: 2,470 2,500 2,530 102 101
Oklahoma ………: 275 275 285 104 104
South Dakota …..: 225 235 235 104 100
Texas …………: 2,500 2,450 2,470 99 101
Washington …….: 200 215 225 113 105
:
Other States …..: 320 325 320 100 98
:
United States ….: 10,792 10,688 10,797 100 101
—————————————————————————————————
Number of Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month – States and
United States: 2014 and 2015
———————————————————————————————
: : : During March 2015
: During : During :——————————————–
State : March 2014 :February 2015 : : Percent of : Percent of
: : : Number :previous year :previous month
———————————————————————————————
: ———— 1,000 head ———– —– percent —-
:
Arizona ……….: 30 19 25 83 132
California …….: 53 48 55 104 115
Colorado ………: 165 150 150 91 100
Idaho …………: 34 31 30 88 97
Iowa ………….: 71 85 90 127 106
Kansas ………..: 390 355 410 105 115
Minnesota ……..: 18 18 23 128 128
Nebraska ………: 410 400 440 107 110
Oklahoma ………: 52 42 49 94 117
South Dakota …..: 42 41 33 79 80
Texas …………: 470 285 420 89 147
Washington …….: 31 43 39 126 91
:
Other States …..: 35 34 45 129 132
:
United States ….: 1,801 1,551 1,809 100 117
———————————————————————————————
Number of Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month –
States and United States: 2014 and 2015
—————————————————————————————-
: During March
:———————————————————————
State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total
:———————————————————————
: 2014 : 2015 : 2014 : 2015 : 2014 : 2015 : 2014 : 2015 : 2014 : 2015
—————————————————————————————-
: 1,000 head
:
Colorado ………: 35 30 30 25 50 40 50 55 165 150
Kansas ………..: 65 60 55 65 110 110 160 175 390 410
Nebraska ………: 55 55 65 65 105 100 185 220 410 440
Texas …………: 170 115 90 70 125 120 85 115 470 420
:
Other States …..: 100 105 50 50 76 79 140 155 366 389
:
United States ….: 425 365 290 275 466 449 620 720 1,801 1,809
:———————————————————————
: During February
:———————————————————————
State :Under 600 lbs: 600-699 lbs : 700-799 lbs : 800+ lbs : Total
:———————————————————————
: 2014 : 2015 : 2014 : 2015 : 2014 : 2015 : 2014 : 2015 : 2014 : 2015
:———————————————————————
: 1,000 head
:
Colorado ………: 30 25 25 25 35 40 45 60 135 150
Kansas ………..: 60 60 60 65 90 95 125 135 335 355
Nebraska ………: 65 60 90 65 105 100 170 175 430 400
Texas …………: 155 100 90 45 100 75 65 65 410 285
:
Other States …..: 80 85 65 65 88 86 115 125 348 361
:
United States ….: 390 330 330 265 418 396 520 560 1,658 1,551
—————————————————————————————-
Number of Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month – States and United States:
2014 and 2015
———————————————————————————————
: : : During March 2015
: During : During :——————————————–
State : March 2014 :February 2015 : : Percent of : Percent of
: : : Number :previous year :previous month
———————————————————————————————
: ———— 1,000 head ———– —– percent —-
:
Arizona ……….: 24 19 21 88 111
California …….: 70 43 46 66 107
Colorado ………: 130 145 140 108 97
Idaho …………: 33 29 29 88 100
Iowa ………….: 69 74 79 114 107
Kansas ………..: 345 355 370 107 104
Minnesota ……..: 16 13 21 131 162
Nebraska ………: 395 385 395 100 103
Oklahoma ………: 46 30 38 83 127
South Dakota …..: 35 35 32 91 91
Texas …………: 430 315 385 90 122
Washington …….: 29 36 28 97 78
:
Other States …..: 38 37 47 124 127
:
United States ….: 1,660 1,516 1,631 98 108
———————————————————————————————
Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month – States and United States:
2014 and 2015
———————————————————————————————
: : : During March 2015
: During : During :——————————————–
State : March 2014 :February 2015 : : Percent of : Percent of
: : : Number :previous year :previous month
———————————————————————————————
: ———- 1,000 head ———- —– percent —-
:
Arizona ……….: 1 4 6 600 150
California …….: 8 5 4 50 80
Colorado ………: 5 5 10 200 200
Idaho …………: 1 2 1 100 50
Iowa ………….: 2 1 1 50 100
Kansas ………..: 15 10 10 67 100
Minnesota ……..: 1 1 1 100 100
Nebraska ………: 15 15 15 100 100
Oklahoma ………: 1 2 1 100 50
South Dakota …..: 2 1 1 50 100
Texas …………: 10 10 15 150 150
Washington …….: 2 2 1 50 50
:
Other States …..: 2 2 3 150 150
:
United States ….: 65 60 69 106 115
———————————————————————————————
Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter – States and United States:
2014 and 2015
————————————————————————————————–
: Steers and steer calves : Heifers and heifer calves
:—————————————————————————–
State : Apr 1, : Jan 1, : Apr 1, : Apr 1, : Jan 1, : Apr 1,
: 2014 : 2015 : 2015 : 2014 : 2015 : 2015
————————————————————————————————–
: 1,000 Head
:
Arizona …………: 272 246 237 5 3 4
California ………: 435 395 410 40 30 35
Colorado ………..: 630 580 610 320 320 280
Idaho …………..: 120 140 150 85 90 80
Iowa ……………: 490 490 520 180 150 150
Kansas ………….: 1,130 1,100 1,190 960 950 920
Minnesota ……….: 103 109 128 32 28 18
Nebraska ………..: 1,690 1,620 1,830 780 840 700
Oklahoma ………..: 180 170 200 95 85 85
South Dakota …….: 135 145 150 90 85 85
Texas …………..: 1,550 1,600 1,680 950 900 790
Washington ………: 125 123 140 75 87 85
:
Other States …….: 215 230 210 105 110 110
:
United States ……: 7,075 6,948 7,455 3,717 3,678 3,342
————————————————————————————————–
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.
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 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 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 0.6 percent. This means that chances are
2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current
estimate of 10.8 million head by more than 0.6 percent. Chances are 9 out of
10 that the difference will not exceed 1.0 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 53,000 head,
ranging from 0 to 97,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has
been above the latest estimate 19 times and has been below the latest
estimate 4 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 ……………: 0.6 1.0 53 0 97 4 19
:
Placements ……………….: 1.1 2.0 14 1 55 11 13
:
Marketings ……………….: 0.9 1.6 8 0 47 0 8
————————————————————————————————————————–
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 [email protected].
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 …… (202) 720-3240
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
Evan Schulz – Sheep and Goats ……………. (202) 720-6147
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