Cattle on Feed - Release

Cattle
on Feed
Washington, D.C.

Released January 22, 2010, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of
Agriculture. For information on Cattle on Feed call Jason Hardegree at (202) 720-3040, office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.

U.S. Cattle on Feed Down 2 Percent
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000
or more head totaled 11.0 million head on January 1, 2010. The inventory was 2 percent below January
1, 2009. The inventory included 6.88 million steers and steer calves, down 3 percent from the previous
year. This group accounted for 62 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted
for 4.07 million head, down 1 percent from 2009.
Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.55 million, 6 percent below 2008. Net placements
were 1.47 million head. During December, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600
pounds were 430,000, 600-699 pounds were 420,000, 700-799 pounds were 401,000, and 800 pounds
and greater were 295,000.
Marketings of fed cattle during December totaled 1.74 million, 4 percent above 2008.
Other disappearance totaled 72,000 during December, 5 percent below 2008.

Mt An 2-1 (1-10)

Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and
Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,
United States, January 1, 2009-2010
Number
Item
2009
2010
1,000 Head

On Feed Dec 1
Placed on Feed During Dec
Fed Cattle Marketed During Dec
Other Disappearance During Dec
On Feed Jan 1

11,346
1,647
1,683
76
11,234

Percent of
Previous Year

1,000 Head

Percent

*11,277
1,546
1,742
72
11,009

99
94
104
95
98

* Revised.

Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and
Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,
United States, December 1, 2008-2009
Number
Item
2008
2009
1,000 Head

On Feed Nov 1
Placed on Feed During Nov
Fed Cattle Marketed During Nov
Other Disappearance During Nov
On Feed Dec 1

10,972
2,016
1,575
67
11,346

Percent of
Previous Year

1,000 Head

Percent

11,134
*1,844
*1,635
66
*11,277

101
91
104
99
99

* Revised.

Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed by Class, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,
United States, January 1, 2009-2010
Number
Item
2009
2010
1,000 Head

Class on Feed Jan 1
Steers and Steer Calves
Heifers and Heifer Calves
Cows and Bulls

Cattle on Feed
January 2010

7,071
4,100
63

2

1,000 Head

Percent of
Previous Year
Percent

6,877
4,069
63

97
99
100

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

State

Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,
by Month, State, and United States 2009-2010
Jan 1, 2010
Jan 1, 2009
Dec 1, 2009
Percent of
Number
Previous Year
1,000 Head

AZ
CA
CO
ID
IA
KS
NE
NM
OK
SD
TX
WA
Oth Sts1
US

1,000 Head

1,000 Head

Percent of
Previous Month

Percent

Percent

358
490
1,000
220
500
2,270
2,370
164
335
220
2,790
157

282
465
1,060
*210
560
2,330
2,410
(D)
375
235
2,760
172

288
465
1,010
215
570
2,250
2,360
(D)
365
235
2,680
166

80
95
101
98
114
99
100
(D)
109
107
96
106

102
100
95
102
102
97
98
(D)
97
100
97
97

360

418

405

(X)

97

11,234

*11,277

11,009

98

98

* Revised.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(X) Comparison to 2009 is not applicable.
1
Includes unpublished New Mexico totals for Dec. 2009 and Jan. 2010.

United States Cattle on Feed
1,000+ Capacity Feedlots
Million Head

13.0
12.0
11.0
10.0
9.0

2009

2010

8.0
Jan

Cattle on Feed
January 2010

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

3

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Cattle on Feed: Number Placed on Feed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,
by Month, State, and United States 2008-2009
During Dec 2009
During
During
Percent of
Dec 2008
Nov 2009
Number
Previous Year

State

1,000 Head

AZ
CA
CO
ID
IA
KS
NE
NM
OK
SD
TX
WA

1,000 Head

Percent

Percent

29
59
150
36
66
380
345
16
49
38
405
28

26
50
165
*44
108
355
400
(D)
57
67
455
47

32
63
110
41
85
375
320
(D)
50
38
350
29

110
107
73
114
129
99
93
(D)
102
100
86
104

123
126
67
93
79
106
80
(D)
88
57
77
62

46

70

53

(X)

76

1,647

*1,844

1,546

94

84

Oth Sts1
US

1,000 Head

Percent of
Previous Month

* Revised.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(X) Comparison to 2008 is not applicable.
1
Includes unpublished New Mexico totals for 2009.

United States Cattle on Feed
1,000+ Capacity Feedlots Number Placed
Million Head

3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5
2008

2009

1.0
Jan

Cattle on Feed
January 2010

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

4

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Cattle on Feed: Number Placed on Feed by Weight Group, 1,000+ Capacity
Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States, 2008-2009
During December
State

Under 600
2008

600-699

2009

2008

700-799

2009

2008

800 Plus

2009

2008

Total

2009

2008

2009

1,000 Head 1,000 Head 1,000 Head 1,000 Head 1,000 Head 1,000 Head 1,000 Head 1,000 Head 1,000 Head 1,000 Head

CO
KS
NE
TX

25
70
55
140

25
70
60
140

45
120
100
135

30
100
80
110

40
120
100
90

30
135
100
70

40
70
90
40

25
70
80
30

150
380
345
405

110
375
320
350

Oth Sts

135

135

90

100

57

66

85

90

367

391

US

425

430

490

420

407
401
During November

325

295

1,647

1,546

Under 600
2008

600-699

2009

2008

700-799

2009

2008

800 Plus

2009

2008

Total

2009

2008

2009

1,000 Head 1,000 Head 1,000 Head 1,000 Head 1,000 Head 1,000 Head 1,000 Head 1,000 Head 1,000 Head 1,000 Head

CO
KS
NE
TX

50
85
110
145

40
70
80
160

55
125
160
180

50
105
140
140

40
120
80
130

35
110
80
100

40
75
90
55

40
70
100
55

185
405
440
510

165
355
400
455

Oth Sts

175

160

110

130

81

*69

110

110

476

*469

US

565

510

630

565

451

*394

370

375

2,016

*1,844

* Revised.

State

Cattle on Feed: Number Marketed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,
by Month, State, and United States 2008-2009
During Dec 2009
During
During
Percent of
Dec 2008
Nov 2009
Number
Previous Year
1,000 Head

AZ
CA
CO
ID
IA
KS
NE
NM
OK
SD
TX
WA
Oth Sts1
US

1,000 Head

1,000 Head

Percent

Percent of
Previous Month
Percent

29
60
155
39
64
405
340
18
46
37
405
38

22
53
140
*43
85
340
380
(D)
53
35
405
29

25
59
155
35
73
445
350
(D)
58
36
410
34

86
98
100
90
114
110
103
(D)
126
97
101
89

114
111
111
81
86
131
92
(D)
109
103
101
117

47

50

62

(X)

124

1,683

*1,635

1,742

104

107

* Revised.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(X) Comparison to 2008 is not applicable.
1
Includes unpublished New Mexico totals for 2009.

Cattle on Feed
January 2010

5

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

United States Cattle on Feed
1,000+ Capacity Feedlots Number Marketed
Million Head

2.4
2.2
2.0
1.8
1.6
2008

2009

1.4
Jan

State

Feb

Mar

Apr

Oth Sts1
US

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Cattle on Feed: Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,
by Month, State, and United States 2008-2009
During Dec 2009
During
During
Percent of
Dec 2008
Nov 2009
Number
Previous Year
1,000 Head

AZ
CA
CO
ID
IA
KS
NE
NM
OK
SD
TX
WA

May

1,000 Head

1,000 Head

Percent

Nov

Dec

Percent of
Previous Month
Percent

1
4
5
2
2
15
15
2
3
1
20
2

1
2
5
1
3
15
10
(D)
4
2
20
1

1
4
5
1
2
10
20
(D)
2
2
20
1

100
100
100
50
100
67
133
(D)
67
200
100
50

100
200
100
100
67
67
200
(D)
50
100
100
100

4

2

4

(X)

200

76

66

72

95

109

(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(X) Comparison to 2008 is not applicable.
1
Includes unpublished New Mexico totals for 2009.

Cattle on Feed
January 2010

6

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Cattle on Feed: Number on Feed by Class, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,
by Quarter, State, and United States, 2009-2010
Steers & Steer Calves
Heifers & Heifer Calves
Cows and Bulls
State

AZ
CA
CO
ID
IA
KS
NE
NM
OK
SD
TX
WA
Oth Sts1
US

Jan 1,
2009

Oct 1,
2009

Jan 1,
2010

Jan 1,
2009

Oct 1,
2009

Jan 1,
2010

Jan 1,
2009

Oct 1,
2009

Jan 1,
2010

1,000 Head

1,000 Head

1,000 Head

1,000 Head

1,000 Head

1,000 Head

1,000 Head

1,000 Head

1,000 Head

357
440
610
118
345
1,210
1,460
89
215
107
1,770
95

272
410
650
113
365
1,210
1,240
(D)
215
100
1,520
87

285
410
650
120
380
1,250
1,440
(D)
220
115
1,650
94

1
50
385
97
155
1,045
900
75
120
92
1,018
61

1
55
305
91
155
1,005
915
(D)
140
81
1,079
59

3
53
355
90
190
990
910
(D)
145
92
1,029
71

0
0
5
5
0
15
10
0
0
21
2
1

2
0
5
1
0
5
15
(D)
0
14
1
1

0
2
5
5
0
10
10
(D)
0
28
1
1

255

234

263

101

126

141

4

2

1

7,071

6,416

6,877

4,100

4,012

4,069

63

46

63

(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
1
Includes unpublished New Mexico totals for Oct. 2009 and Jan. 2010.

Cattle on Feed
January 2010

7

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

Terms and Definitions of Cattle on Feed Estimates
Cattle on feed are animals 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 cattle 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 cattle 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 U.S. 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 98 percent of the cattle on feed in
feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head.
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 setting 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 following table. 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 less than 0.1 percent (0.04). This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will
not be above or below the current estimate of 11.0 million head by more than 0.04 percent. Chances are
9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.1 percent.

Cattle on Feed
January 2010

8

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

The following table also 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 1,000 head, ranging from
0 to 10,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the final estimate 4 times and
has been below the final estimate 3 times. This does not imply that the initial estimate is likely to
understate or overstate final inventory.

Item

Root
Mean
Square
Error
Percent

Reliability of Monthly Cattle on Feed Estimates 1
90%
Difference Between
Confidence
First and Final
Level
Estimates

Number of
Months

Percent

(000)
Head

Average

Smallest

Largest

First
Above
Final

First
Below
Final

Percent

1,000 Head

1,000 Head

1,000 Head

1,000 Head

Number

Number

Number on
Feed

0.0

0.1

11.0

1

0

10

4

3

Placements

0.1

0.2

3.1

1

0

6

2

5

Marketings

0.2

0.3

5.2

2

0

7

3

5

1

Based on data for the past 24 months.

Information Contacts

Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural
Statistics Service to contact for additional information.
Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch ........................................................................ (202) 720-3570
Livestock Section
Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ...........................................................................
Jim Collom - Dairy Products ............................................................................
Joe Gaynor - Dairy Products Prices ..................................................................
Jason Hardegree - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ..........................................................
Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter .........................................................
Everett Olbert - Sheep and Goats .....................................................................
Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows ................................................
Nick Streff - Hogs and Pigs ..............................................................................

Cattle on Feed
January 2010

9

(202) 690-2424
(202) 690-3236
(202) 690-2168
(202) 720-3040
(515) 284-4340
(202) 720-4751
(202) 720-3278
(202) 720-3106

Agricultural Statistics Board
NASS, USDA

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