Cattle on Feed ISSN: 1948-9080 Released June 21, 2024, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). United States Cattle on Feed Down 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 11.6 million head on June 1, 2024. The inventory was slightly below June 1, 2023. Placements in feedlots during May totaled 2.05 million head, 4 percent above 2023. Net placements were 1.98 million head. During May, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 395,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 315,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 485,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 531,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 230,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 90,000 head. Marketings of fed cattle during May totaled 1.96 million head, slightly above 2023. Other disappearance totaled 62,000 head during May, 16 percent below 2023. Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: June 1, 2023 and 2024 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2023 : 2024 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed May 1 ..........................: 11,654 11,554 99 Placed on feed during May ..............: 1,962 2,046 104 Fed cattle marketed during May .........: 1,952 1,955 100 Other disappearance during May .........: 74 62 84 On feed June 1 .........................: 11,590 11,583 100 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: May 1, 2023 and 2024 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : Percent of Item : 2023 : 2024 :previous year ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---- 1,000 head ---- percent : On feed April 1 ........................: 11,647 11,826 102 Placed on feed during April ............: 1,758 1,656 94 Fed cattle marketed during April .......: 1,700 1,872 110 Other disappearance during April .......: 51 56 110 On feed May 1 ..........................: 11,654 11,554 99 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : June 1, 2024 : : :-------------------------------------------- State : June 1, 2023 : May 1, 2024 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Inventory :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 255 254 253 99 100 California .......: 545 525 525 96 100 Colorado .........: 1,000 950 960 96 101 Idaho ............: 305 340 335 110 99 Iowa .............: 650 660 660 102 100 Kansas ...........: 2,470 2,300 2,320 94 101 Minnesota ........: 100 110 105 105 95 Nebraska .........: 2,450 2,510 2,480 101 99 Oklahoma .........: 250 320 330 132 103 South Dakota .....: 200 245 220 110 90 Texas ............: 2,810 2,770 2,840 101 103 Washington .......: 245 245 245 100 100 : Other States .....: 310 325 310 100 95 : United States ....: 11,590 11,554 11,583 100 100 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During May 2024 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : May 2023 : April 2024 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Placements :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 24 23 25 104 109 California .......: 74 60 60 81 100 Colorado .........: 175 135 170 97 126 Idaho ............: 39 39 43 110 110 Iowa .............: 75 89 73 97 82 Kansas ...........: 495 370 485 98 131 Minnesota ........: 11 16 9 82 56 Nebraska .........: 450 445 495 110 111 Oklahoma .........: 57 44 74 130 168 South Dakota .....: 28 30 24 86 80 Texas ............: 455 330 505 111 153 Washington .......: 33 34 39 118 115 : Other States .....: 46 41 44 96 107 : United States ....: 1,962 1,656 2,046 104 124 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During May 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 30 40 45 30 (D) (D) 175 Kansas ........: 55 80 155 130 75 (D) (D) 495 Nebraska ......: 35 40 105 155 115 (D) (D) 450 Texas .........: 150 90 110 80 25 (D) (D) 455 : Other States ..: 110 60 70 97 50 (D) (D) 387 : United States .: 380 300 480 507 (X) 215 80 1,962 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During April 2024 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ......: 25 20 30 35 25 (D) (D) 135 Kansas ........: 40 50 110 105 65 (D) (D) 370 Nebraska ......: 30 45 100 160 110 (D) (D) 445 Texas .........: 125 55 65 60 25 (D) (D) 330 : Other States ..: 115 50 70 91 50 (D) (D) 376 : United States .: 335 220 375 451 (X) 205 70 1,656 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : During May 2024 :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 25 40 45 30 (D) (D) 170 Kansas ........: 55 75 145 130 80 (D) (D) 485 Nebraska ......: 40 50 110 165 130 (D) (D) 495 Texas .........: 160 105 120 90 30 (D) (D) 505 : Other States ..: 110 60 70 101 50 (D) (D) 391 : United States .: 395 315 485 531 (X) 230 90 2,046 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (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: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During May 2024 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : May 2023 : April 2024 : : Percent of : Percent of : : : Marketings :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 27 24 25 93 104 California .......: 56 59 54 96 92 Colorado .........: 145 170 155 107 91 Idaho ............: 48 43 47 98 109 Iowa .............: 73 87 71 97 82 Kansas ...........: 455 460 455 100 99 Minnesota ........: 10 10 13 130 130 Nebraska .........: 520 465 510 98 110 Oklahoma .........: 56 53 63 113 119 South Dakota .....: 42 34 47 112 138 Texas ............: 425 385 420 99 109 Washington .......: 42 38 38 90 100 : Other States .....: 53 44 57 108 130 : United States ....: 1,952 1,872 1,955 100 104 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : : : During May 2024 : During : During :-------------------------------------------- State : May 2023 : April 2024 : Other : Percent of : Percent of : : :disappearance :previous year :previous month --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- : ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ---- : Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100 California .......: 8 6 6 75 100 Colorado .........: 10 5 5 50 100 Idaho ............: 1 1 1 100 100 Iowa .............: 2 2 2 100 100 Kansas ...........: 10 10 10 100 100 Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100 Nebraska .........: 20 10 15 75 150 Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100 South Dakota .....: 6 1 2 33 200 Texas ............: 10 15 15 150 100 Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100 : Other States .....: 3 2 2 67 100 : United States ....: 74 56 62 84 111 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 0.5 percent. This means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above or below the current estimate of 11.6 million head by more than 0.5 percent. Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.9 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 47,000 head, ranging from 0 to 115,000 head. During this period the initial estimate has been above the latest estimate 0 times and has been below the latest estimate 20 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 ......................: 0.5 0.9 47 0 115 20 0 : Placements ...................: 0.5 0.9 7 0 24 9 11 : Marketings ...................: 0.1 0.2 2 0 6 11 7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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