Cattle on Feed
Cattle on Feed
ISSN: 1948-9080
Released January 19, 2024, 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 11.9 million head on
January 1, 2024. The inventory was 2 percent above January 1, 2023. The
inventory included 7.20 million steers and steer calves, up 2 percent from
the previous year. This group accounted for 60 percent of the total
inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.74 million head, up
2 percent from 2023.
Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.70 million head, 4 percent
below 2022. Net placements were 1.64 million head. During December,
placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were
440,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 410,000 head, 700-799 pounds were
380,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 279,000 head, 900-999 pounds were
110,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 85,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during December totaled 1.73 million head, 1 percent
below 2022.
Other disappearance totaled 60,000 head during December, 11 percent above
2022.
Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on
1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: January 1, 2023 and 2024
[December preceding year]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : Percent of
Item : 2023 : 2024 :previous year
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ---- 1,000 head ---- percent
:
On feed December 1 .....................: 11,693 12,011 103
Placed on feed during December .........: 1,784 1,704 96
Fed cattle marketed during December ....: 1,741 1,725 99
Other disappearance during December ....: 54 60 111
On feed January 1 ......................: 11,682 11,930 102
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on
1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: December 1, 2022 and 2023
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : Percent of
Item : 2022 : 2023 :previous year
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ---- 1,000 head ---- percent
:
On feed November 1 .....................: 11,736 11,943 102
Placed on feed during November .........: 1,905 1,873 98
Fed cattle marketed during November ....: 1,891 1,751 93
Other disappearance during November ....: 57 54 95
On feed December 1 .....................: 11,693 12,011 103
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: January 1, 2023 and 2024
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : Percent of
Item : : :-----------------------------
: 2023 : 2024 :previous year : inventory
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ---- 1,000 head --- percent percent
:
Class on feed January 1 ................:
Steers and steer calves ..............: 7,032 7,195 102 60
Heifers and heifer calves ............: 4,650 4,735 102 40
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States:
2023 and 2024
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : January 1, 2024
: : :--------------------------------------------
State : January 1, 2023 :December 1, 2023 : : Percent of : Percent of
: : : Inventory :previous year :previous month
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ----
:
Arizona ..........: 267 266 265 99 100
California .......: 515 510 520 101 102
Colorado .........: 1,040 1,030 1,020 98 99
Idaho ............: 320 325 335 105 103
Iowa .............: 620 640 630 102 98
Kansas ...........: 2,390 2,500 2,480 104 99
Minnesota ........: 95 100 105 111 105
Nebraska .........: 2,600 2,580 2,560 98 99
Oklahoma .........: 275 325 335 122 103
South Dakota .....: 210 230 230 110 100
Texas ............: 2,770 2,910 2,860 103 98
Washington .......: 265 270 270 102 100
:
Other States .....: 315 325 320 102 98
:
United States ....: 11,682 12,011 11,930 102 99
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States:
2022 and 2023
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : During December 2023
: During : During :--------------------------------------------
State :December 2022 :November 2023 : : Percent of : Percent of
: : : Placements :previous year :previous month
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ----
:
Arizona ..........: 24 29 20 83 69
California .......: 69 65 78 113 120
Colorado .........: 145 155 135 93 87
Idaho ............: 46 55 50 109 91
Iowa .............: 84 88 83 99 94
Kansas ...........: 435 385 395 91 103
Minnesota ........: 13 15 16 123 107
Nebraska .........: 470 490 435 93 89
Oklahoma .........: 35 49 43 123 88
South Dakota .....: 34 59 37 109 63
Texas ............: 350 390 330 94 85
Washington .......: 37 41 38 103 93
:
Other States .....: 42 52 44 105 85
:
United States ....: 1,784 1,873 1,704 96 91
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2022 and 2023
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: During December 2022
:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 ......: 35 35 30 25 20 (D) (D) 145
Kansas ........: 60 105 140 85 45 (D) (D) 435
Nebraska ......: 50 115 115 100 90 (D) (D) 470
Texas .........: 160 85 60 35 10 (D) (D) 350
:
Other States ..: 145 85 70 54 30 (D) (D) 384
:
United States .: 450 425 415 299 (X) 105 90 1,784
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: During November 2023
:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 ......: 50 35 30 20 20 (D) (D) 155
Kansas ........: 55 90 115 80 45 (D) (D) 385
Nebraska ......: 95 115 90 90 100 (D) (D) 490
Texas .........: 160 100 75 40 15 (D) (D) 390
:
Other States ..: 175 105 70 58 45 (D) (D) 453
:
United States .: 535 445 380 288 (X) 140 85 1,873
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: During December 2023
:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 ......: 30 35 30 20 20 (D) (D) 135
Kansas ........: 60 90 120 80 45 (D) (D) 395
Nebraska ......: 50 105 100 90 90 (D) (D) 435
Texas .........: 150 85 55 30 10 (D) (D) 330
:
Other States ..: 150 95 75 59 30 (D) (D) 409
:
United States .: 440 410 380 279 (X) 110 85 1,704
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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:
2022 and 2023
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : During December 2023
: During : During :--------------------------------------------
State :December 2022 :November 2023 : : Percent of : Percent of
: : : Marketings :previous year :previous month
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ----
:
Arizona ..........: 24 20 20 83 100
California .......: 53 55 62 117 113
Colorado .........: 140 150 140 100 93
Idaho ............: 40 43 39 98 91
Iowa .............: 92 97 92 100 95
Kansas ...........: 365 395 405 111 103
Minnesota ........: 12 14 10 83 71
Nebraska .........: 470 440 440 94 100
Oklahoma .........: 39 38 32 82 84
South Dakota .....: 40 48 35 88 73
Texas ............: 380 365 365 96 100
Washington .......: 41 40 37 90 93
:
Other States .....: 45 46 48 107 104
:
United States ....: 1,741 1,751 1,725 99 99
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States:
2022 and 2023
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : During December 2023
: During : During :--------------------------------------------
State :December 2022 :November 2023 : Other : Percent of : Percent of
: : :disappearance :previous year :previous month
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ----
:
Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100
California .......: 6 5 6 100 120
Colorado .........: 5 5 5 100 100
Idaho ............: 1 2 1 100 50
Iowa .............: 2 1 1 50 100
Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100
Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100
Nebraska .........: 10 10 15 150 150
Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100
South Dakota .....: 4 1 2 50 200
Texas ............: 10 15 15 150 100
Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100
:
Other States .....: 2 1 1 50 100
:
United States ....: 54 54 60 111 111
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cattle on Feed by Class on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Quarter - States and United States:
2023 and 2024
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Steers and steer calves : Heifers and heifer calves
:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
State : Jan 1, : Oct 1, : Jan 1, : Jan 1, : Oct 1, : Jan 1,
: 2023 : 2023 : 2024 : 2023 : 2023 : 2024
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: 1,000 Head
:
Arizona ............: 257 240 250 10 10 15
California .........: 435 405 415 80 100 105
Colorado ...........: 580 530 540 460 460 480
Idaho ..............: 165 165 180 155 130 155
Iowa ...............: 465 470 475 155 170 155
Kansas .............: 1,270 1,350 1,380 1,120 1,150 1,100
Minnesota ..........: 80 80 85 15 15 20
Nebraska ...........: 1,600 1,490 1,590 1,000 930 970
Oklahoma ...........: 150 155 195 125 135 140
South Dakota .......: 125 105 135 85 80 95
Texas ..............: 1,560 1,630 1,610 1,210 1,220 1,250
Washington .........: 150 135 145 115 120 125
:
Other States .......: 195 190 195 120 115 125
:
United States ......: 7,032 6,945 7,195 4,650 4,635 4,735
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 0.3 percent. This means that chances are
2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current
estimate of 11.9 million head by more than 0.3 percent. Chances are 9 out of
10 that the difference will not exceed 0.5 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 22,000 head,
ranging from 0 to 65,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has
been above the latest estimate 0 times and has been below the latest estimate
16 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 ......................: 0.3 0.5 22 0 65 16 0
:
Placements ...................: 0.6 0.9 7 0 23 10 7
:
Marketings ...................: 0.1 0.2 1 0 5 3 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
Ryan Cowen - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ........................................................ (202) 720-3040
Kim DaPra - Milk Production and Milk Cows .................................................. (512) 501-3266
Donnie Fike - Dairy Products ............................................................... (202) 690-3347
Anthony Fischer - Hogs and Pigs............................................................. (202) 720-3106
Suzanne Richards - Sheep and Goats ......................................................... (202) 720-4448
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