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 ......................................................... 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