Cattle on Feed - Publication

Cattle on Feed
ISSN: 1948-9080

Released March 20, 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 11.8 million head on March 1, 2020. The inventory was slightly above March 1, 2019.
Placements in feedlots during February totaled 1.71 million head, 8 percent below 2019. Net placements were
1.65 million head. During February, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 340,000 head,
600-699 pounds were 315,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 470,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 411,000 head,
900-999 pounds were 115,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 60,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during February totaled 1.78 million head, 5 percent above 2019.
Other disappearance totaled 58,000 head during February, 12 percent below 2019.

Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity
Feedlots – United States: March 1, 2019 and 2020
Item

Number
2019
(1,000 head)

On feed February 1 ................................................................................
Placed on feed during February .............................................................
Fed cattle marketed during February ......................................................
Other disappearance during February ....................................................
On feed March 1 ....................................................................................

Percent of
previous year

2020
(1,000 head)

11,676
1,858
1,683
66
11,785

(percent)

11,928
1,711
1,775
58
11,806

102
92
105
88
100

Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity
Feedlots – United States: February 1, 2019 and 2020
Item

Number
2019
(1,000 head)

On feed January 1 .................................................................................
Placed on feed during January ...............................................................
Fed cattle marketed during January .......................................................
Other disappearance during January .....................................................
On feed February 1 ................................................................................

2

Percent of
previous year

2020

11,680
1,967
1,910
61
11,676

(1,000 head)
11,958
1,955
1,931
54
11,928

(percent)
102
99
101
89
102

Cattle on Feed (March 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month – States and United States:
2019 and 2020
March 1, 2020
State

March 1, 2019

February 1, 2020

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

Number

Percent of
previous year

Percent of
previous month

(percent)

(percent)

(1,000 head)

Arizona ............................
California .........................
Colorado ..........................
Idaho ...............................
Iowa .................................
Kansas ............................
Minnesota ........................
Nebraska .........................
Oklahoma ........................
South Dakota ...................
Texas ..............................
Washington .....................

300
525
1,050
275
710
2,300
150
2,600
310
260
2,770
225

253
545
1,100
300
670
2,400
135
2,480
325
240
2,940
230

256
545
1,050
295
670
2,380
135
2,500
320
240
2,880
230

85
104
100
107
94
103
90
96
103
92
104
102

101
100
95
98
100
99
100
101
98
100
98
100

Other States ....................

310

310

305

98

98

United States ...................

11,785

11,928

11,806

100

99

Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity
Feedlots – United States
Million head
12.5

12.0

11.5

11.0
2019

2020

10.5
Jan

Feb

Mar

Cattle on Feed (March 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

3

Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month – States and United States:
2019 and 2020
State

During February 2020

During
February 2019

During
January 2020

Number

Percent of
previous year

Percent of
previous month

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(percent)

(percent)

Arizona ..............................
California ...........................
Colorado ............................
Idaho ..................................
Iowa ...................................
Kansas ...............................
Minnesota ..........................
Nebraska ...........................
Oklahoma ..........................
South Dakota .....................
Texas .................................
Washington ........................

29
55
185
38
133
425
14
455
44
42
370
26

29
72
205
33
111
445
17
510
43
41
370
34

26
64
165
32
108
390
13
450
36
36
320
30

90
116
89
84
81
92
93
99
82
86
86
115

90
89
80
97
97
88
76
88
84
88
86
88

Other States .......................

42

45

41

98

91

United States .....................

1,858

1,955

1,711

92

88

Cattle Placed on 1,000+
Capacity Feedlots – United States
Million head
2.5
2.3
2.1
1.9

1.7
2019

2020

1.5
Jan

4

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cattle on Feed (March 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month – States and
United States: 2019 and 2020
During February 2019

State

Under 600 lbs

600-699 lbs

700-799 lbs

800-899 lbs

900+ lbs1

900-999 lbs

1,000+ lbs

Total

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

Colorado .........
Kansas ...........
Nebraska ........
Texas .............

30
45
30
130

35
75
80
75

50
150
145
85

45
115
125
60

25
40
75
20

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

185
425
455
370

Other States ...

105

80

100

98

40

(D)

(D)

423

United States ..

340

345

530

443

(X)

135

65

1,858

During January 2020

State

Under 600 lbs

600-699 lbs

700-799 lbs

800-899 lbs

900+ lbs 1

900-999 lbs

1,000+ lbs

Total

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

Colorado .........
Kansas ...........
Nebraska ........
Texas .............

40
40
40
135

50
95
115
100

55
160
150
75

40
105
140
45

20
45
65
15

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

205
445
510
370

Other States ...

135

95

95

70

30

(D)

(D)

425

United States ..

390

455

535

400

(X)

105

70

1,955

During February 2020

State

Under 600 lbs

600-699 lbs

700-799 lbs

800-899 lbs

900+ lbs 1

900-999 lbs

1,000+ lbs

Total

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

Colorado .........
Kansas ...........
Nebraska ........
Texas .............

30
45
30
130

30
70
75
70

40
125
140
70

45
110
130
40

20
40
75
10

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

165
390
450
320

Other States ...

105

70

95

86

30

(D)

(D)

386

United States ..

340

315

470

411

(X)

115

60

1,711

(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 Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month – States and United States: 2019 and 2020
State

During February 2020

During
February 2019

During
January 2020

Number

Percent of
previous year

Percent of
previous month

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(percent)

(percent)

Arizona ..............................
California ...........................
Colorado ............................
Idaho .................................
Iowa ...................................
Kansas ..............................
Minnesota ..........................
Nebraska ...........................
Oklahoma ..........................
South Dakota .....................
Texas ................................
Washington .......................

19
51
170
35
109
365
18
415
48
34
340
30

28
62
190
32
108
455
16
480
46
43
380
38

22
58
210
36
106
400
12
420
40
33
365
29

116
114
124
103
97
110
67
101
83
97
107
97

79
94
111
113
98
88
75
88
87
77
96
76

Other States ......................

49

53

44

90

83

United States .....................

1,683

1,931

1,775

105

92

Cattle on Feed (March 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

5

Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity
Feedlots – United States
Million head
2.1
2.0
1.9
1.8
1.7
2019

2020

1.6
Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month – States and United States:
2019 and 2020
State

During
February 2019

During February 2020

During
January 2020

(1,000 head)

Percent of
previous year

Number

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

Percent of
previous month

(percent)

(percent)

Arizona ..............................
California ...........................
Colorado ............................
Idaho ..................................
Iowa ...................................
Kansas ...............................
Minnesota ..........................
Nebraska ...........................
Oklahoma ..........................
South Dakota .....................
Texas .................................
Washington ........................

1
4
5
3
4
10
1
20
1
3
10
1

1
5
5
1
3
10
1
10
2
3
10
1

1
6
5
1
2
10
1
10
1
3
15
1

100
150
100
33
50
100
100
50
100
100
150
100

100
120
100
100
67
100
100
100
50
100
150
100

Other States .......................

3

2

2

67

100

United States .....................

66

54

58

88

107

6

Cattle on Feed (March 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

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 11.8 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.
Cattle on Feed (March 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

7

Reliability of Monthly Cattle on Feed Estimates
[Based on data for the past 24 months]
Item

Difference between first and latest estimate

Root mean
square error

90 percent
confidence
level

Average

Smallest

Largest

(percent)

(percent)

(1,000)

(1,000)

(1,000)

Months
Below latest

Above latest

(number)

(number)

Number on feed .............................

0.1

0.1

4

0

15

2

8

Placements ....................................

0.2

0.4

2

0

15

5

3

Marketings .....................................

0.0

0.0

0

0

2

0

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 [email protected].
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
Heidi Lanouette – 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

8

Cattle on Feed (March 2020)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

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