ISSN: 1948-9080
Released July 24, 2015, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
United States Cattle on Feed Up 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 10.2 million head on
July 1, 2015. The inventory was 2 percent above July 1, 2014. The inventory
included 6.91 million steers and steer calves, up 7 percent from the previous
year. This group accounted for 67 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and
heifer calves accounted for 3.33 million head, down 7 percent from 2014. July
1, 2015 heifers and heifer calves inventory is the lowest percent of total
July inventory since the series began in 1996.
Placements in feedlots during June totaled 1.48 million, 1 percent above
2014. Net placements were 1.41 million head. During June, placements of
cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 350,000, 600-699 pounds
were 250,000, 700-799 pounds were 336,000, and 800 pounds and greater were
545,000.
Marketings of fed cattle during June totaled 1.75 million, 5 percent below
2014. Marketings are the lowest for June since the series began in 1996.
Other disappearance totaled 69,000 during June, 8 percent below 2014.
United States All Cattle on Feed Up 2 Percent
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for
all feedlots totaled 12.1 million head on July 1, 2015. The inventory was up
2 percent from the July 1, 2014 total of 11.9 million head. Cattle on feed in
feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head accounted for 85 percent of the
total cattle on feed on July 1, 2015, up slightly from the previous year.
Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on
1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: July 1, 2014 and 2015
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Number : Percent of
Item :---------------------------:
: 2014 : 2015 :previous year
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ---- 1,000 head ---- percent
:
On feed June 1 .........................: 10,497 10,571 101
Placed on feed during June .............: 1,468 1,481 101
Fed cattle marketed during June ........: 1,847 1,747 95
Other disappearance during June ........: 75 69 92
On feed July 1 .........................: 10,043 10,236 102
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Cattle on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on
1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: June 1, 2014 and 2015
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Number : Percent of
Item :---------------------------:
: 2014 : 2015 :previous year
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ---- 1,000 head ---- percent
:
On feed May 1 ..........................: 10,554 10,640 101
Placed on feed during May ..............: 1,909 1,719 90
Fed cattle marketed during May .........: 1,865 1,711 92
Other disappearance during May .........: 101 77 76
On feed June 1 .........................: 10,497 10,571 101
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States:
July 1, 2014 and 2015
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Number : Percent of
Item :---------------------------:
: 2014 : 2015 :previous year
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ---- 1,000 Head --- percent
:
Class on feed July 1 :
Steers and steer calves ..............: 6,448 6,909 107
Heifers and heifer calves ............: 3,595 3,327 93
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Number on Feed - United States: July 1, 2014 and 2015
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Number : Percent of
State :---------------------------:
: 2014 : 2015 : 2014
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ---- 1,000 Head ---- percent
:
United States .......................: 11,900 12,100 102
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Cattle on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States:
2014 and 2015
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : July 1, 2015
: : :--------------------------------------------
State : July 1, 2014 : June 1, 2015 : : Percent of : Percent of
: : : Number :previous year :previous month
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ----
:
Arizona ..........: 272 238 240 88 101
California .......: 435 460 460 106 100
Colorado .........: 850 890 830 98 93
Idaho ............: 180 235 225 125 96
Iowa .............: 620 650 640 103 98
Kansas ...........: 1,900 2,020 1,940 102 96
Minnesota ........: 121 143 141 117 99
Nebraska .........: 2,240 2,400 2,280 102 95
Oklahoma .........: 255 275 260 102 95
South Dakota .....: 195 230 230 118 100
Texas ............: 2,490 2,500 2,480 100 99
Washington .......: 175 230 215 123 93
:
Other States .....: 310 300 295 95 98
:
United States ....: 10,043 10,571 10,236 102 97
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and
United States: 2014 and 2015
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : During June 2015
: During : During :--------------------------------------------
State : June 2014 : May 2015 : : Percent of : Percent of
: : : Number :previous year :previous month
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ----
:
Arizona ..........: 20 25 28 140 112
California .......: 45 54 45 100 83
Colorado .........: 95 140 80 84 57
Idaho ............: 26 30 31 119 103
Iowa .............: 54 65 67 124 103
Kansas ...........: 315 345 335 106 97
Minnesota ........: 15 14 17 113 121
Nebraska .........: 385 390 375 97 96
Oklahoma .........: 37 49 38 103 78
South Dakota .....: 31 29 28 90 97
Texas ............: 370 495 375 101 76
Washington .......: 40 45 30 75 67
:
Other States .....: 35 38 32 91 84
:
United States ....: 1,468 1,719 1,481 101 86
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month -
States and United States: 2014 and 2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: During June
:---------------------------------------------------------------------
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 20 15 15 20 15 30 30 95 80
Kansas ...........: 65 60 60 65 80 95 110 115 315 335
Nebraska .........: 55 50 50 50 90 75 190 200 385 375
Texas ............: 155 125 75 80 85 95 55 75 370 375
:
Other States .....: 100 95 45 40 53 56 105 125 303 316
:
United States ....: 405 350 245 250 328 336 490 545 1,468 1,481
:---------------------------------------------------------------------
: During May
:---------------------------------------------------------------------
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 20 20 35 35 50 55 140 140
Kansas ...........: 80 50 75 55 120 90 160 150 435 345
Nebraska .........: 55 45 55 55 95 75 220 215 425 390
Texas ............: 180 145 100 90 160 125 140 135 580 495
:
Other States .....: 85 90 40 40 64 64 140 155 329 349
:
United States ....: 435 360 290 260 474 389 710 710 1,909 1,719
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States:
2014 and 2015
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : During June 2015
: During : During :--------------------------------------------
State : June 2014 : May 2015 : : Percent of : Percent of
: : : Number :previous year :previous month
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ----
:
Arizona ..........: 22 26 25 114 96
California .......: 40 39 40 100 103
Colorado .........: 150 130 125 83 96
Idaho ............: 39 29 40 103 138
Iowa .............: 70 74 76 109 103
Kansas ...........: 420 375 400 95 107
Minnesota ........: 15 15 18 120 120
Nebraska .........: 500 470 480 96 102
Oklahoma .........: 46 42 52 113 124
South Dakota .....: 45 37 26 58 70
Texas ............: 420 395 385 92 97
Washington .......: 44 44 44 100 100
:
Other States .....: 36 35 36 100 103
:
United States ....: 1,847 1,711 1,747 95 102
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States:
2014 and 2015
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : During June 2015
: During : During :--------------------------------------------
State : June 2014 : May 2015 : : Percent of : Percent of
: : : Number :previous year :previous month
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ----
:
Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100
California .......: 5 5 5 100 100
Colorado .........: 5 20 15 300 75
Idaho ............: 2 1 1 50 100
Iowa .............: 4 1 1 25 100
Kansas ...........: 15 10 15 100 150
Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100
Nebraska .........: 25 20 15 60 75
Oklahoma .........: 1 2 1 100 50
South Dakota .....: 1 2 2 200 100
Texas ............: 10 10 10 100 100
Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100
:
Other States .....: 4 3 1 25 33
:
United States ....: 75 77 69 92 90
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 : Jul 1, : Apr 1, : Jul 1, : Jul 1, : Apr 1, : Jul 1,
: 2014 : 2015 : 2015 : 2014 : 2015 : 2015
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: 1,000 Head
:
Arizona ............: 268 237 236 4 4 4
California .........: 390 410 425 45 35 35
Colorado ...........: 550 610 560 300 280 270
Idaho ..............: 100 150 150 80 80 75
Iowa ...............: 430 520 490 190 150 150
Kansas .............: 970 1,190 1,030 930 920 910
Minnesota ..........: 95 128 126 26 18 15
Nebraska ...........: 1,470 1,830 1,570 770 700 710
Oklahoma ...........: 170 200 190 85 85 70
South Dakota .......: 115 150 142 80 85 88
Texas ..............: 1,580 1,680 1,650 910 790 830
Washington .........: 100 140 135 75 85 80
:
Other States .......: 210 210 205 100 110 90
:
United States ......: 6,448 7,455 6,909 3,595 3,342 3,327
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 10.2 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 52,000 head,
ranging from 0 to 97,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has
been above the latest estimate 18 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 52 0 97 4 18
:
Placements ...................: 1.1 1.9 14 0 55 11 11
:
Marketings ...................: 0.6 1.0 5 0 30 0 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
Vacant - Sheep and Goats ..................... (202) 720-3570
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