Cattle on Feed
Cattle on Feed
ISSN: 1948-9080
Released March 22, 2024, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
United States Cattle on Feed Up 1 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 11.8 million head on
March 1, 2024. The inventory was 1 percent above March 1, 2023.
Placements in feedlots during February totaled 1.89 million head, 10 percent
above 2023. Placements were the highest for February since the series began
in 1996. Net placements were 1.83 million head. During February, placements
of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 360,000 head,
600-699 pounds were 330,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 515,000 head,
800-899 pounds were 485,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 150,000 head, and
1,000 pounds and greater were 50,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during February totaled 1.79 million head, 3 percent
above 2023.
Other disappearance totaled 56,000 head during February, 3 percent below
2023.
Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on
1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: March 1, 2023 and 2024
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : Percent of
Item : 2023 : 2024 :previous year
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ---- 1,000 head ---- percent
:
On feed February 1 .....................: 11,754 11,797 100
Placed on feed during February .........: 1,723 1,890 110
Fed cattle marketed during February ....: 1,734 1,793 103
Other disappearance during February ....: 58 56 97
On feed March 1 ........................: 11,685 11,838 101
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on
1,000+ Capacity Feedlots - United States: February 1, 2023 and 2024
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : Percent of
Item : 2023 : 2024 :previous year
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ---- 1,000 head ---- percent
:
On feed January 1 ......................: 11,727 11,930 102
Placed on feed during January ..........: 1,936 1,791 93
Fed cattle marketed during January .....: 1,846 1,843 100
Other disappearance during January .....: 63 81 129
On feed February 1 .....................: 11,754 11,797 100
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States:
2023 and 2024
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : March 1, 2024
: : :--------------------------------------------
State : March 1, 2023 :February 1, 2024 : : Percent of : Percent of
: : : Inventory :previous year :previous month
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: --------------- 1,000 head -------------- ----- percent ----
:
Arizona ..........: 260 262 258 99 98
California .......: 520 520 520 100 100
Colorado .........: 1,010 1,010 1,020 101 101
Idaho ............: 325 345 345 106 100
Iowa .............: 640 640 650 102 102
Kansas ...........: 2,460 2,390 2,400 98 100
Minnesota ........: 95 105 105 111 100
Nebraska .........: 2,530 2,550 2,560 101 100
Oklahoma .........: 270 330 330 122 100
South Dakota .....: 215 240 245 114 102
Texas ............: 2,780 2,820 2,820 101 100
Washington .......: 255 260 255 100 98
:
Other States .....: 325 325 330 102 102
:
United States ....: 11,685 11,797 11,838 101 100
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States:
2023 and 2024
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : During February 2024
: During : During :--------------------------------------------
State :February 2023 : January 2024 : : Percent of : Percent of
: : : Placements :previous year :previous month
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ----
:
Arizona ..........: 23 24 22 96 92
California .......: 59 63 66 112 105
Colorado .........: 135 135 155 115 115
Idaho ............: 36 46 43 119 93
Iowa .............: 100 115 118 118 103
Kansas ...........: 425 390 455 107 117
Minnesota ........: 14 11 14 100 127
Nebraska .........: 435 505 505 116 100
Oklahoma .........: 26 35 38 146 109
South Dakota .....: 37 41 42 114 102
Texas ............: 360 345 355 99 103
Washington .......: 36 32 33 92 103
:
Other States .....: 37 49 44 119 90
:
United States ....: 1,723 1,791 1,890 110 106
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month - States and United States: 2023 and 2024
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: During February 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 ......: 25 25 30 35 20 (D) (D) 135
Kansas ........: 45 75 145 115 45 (D) (D) 425
Nebraska ......: 30 65 130 140 70 (D) (D) 435
Texas .........: 145 80 75 50 10 (D) (D) 360
:
Other States ..: 100 65 85 83 35 (D) (D) 368
:
United States .: 345 310 465 423 (X) 130 50 1,723
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: During January 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 30 35 25 20 (D) (D) 135
Kansas ........: 45 90 130 85 40 (D) (D) 390
Nebraska ......: 40 100 155 140 70 (D) (D) 505
Texas .........: 135 80 70 50 10 (D) (D) 345
:
Other States ..: 130 90 85 76 35 (D) (D) 416
:
United States .: 375 390 475 376 (X) 105 70 1,791
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: During February 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 30 35 40 25 (D) (D) 155
Kansas ........: 45 75 155 130 50 (D) (D) 455
Nebraska ......: 35 75 155 165 75 (D) (D) 505
Texas .........: 140 75 70 55 15 (D) (D) 355
:
Other States ..: 115 75 100 95 35 (D) (D) 420
:
United States .: 360 330 515 485 (X) 150 50 1,890
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(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 February 2024
: During : During :--------------------------------------------
State :February 2023 : January 2024 : : Percent of : Percent of
: : : Marketings :previous year :previous month
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ------------ 1,000 head ----------- ----- percent ----
:
Arizona ..........: 26 26 25 96 96
California .......: 52 57 60 115 105
Colorado .........: 150 135 140 93 104
Idaho ............: 35 35 41 117 117
Iowa .............: 108 103 106 98 103
Kansas ...........: 405 465 435 107 94
Minnesota ........: 13 10 13 100 130
Nebraska .........: 460 490 480 104 98
Oklahoma .........: 30 39 37 123 95
South Dakota .....: 35 30 36 103 120
Texas ............: 340 370 345 101 93
Washington .......: 35 41 37 106 90
:
Other States .....: 45 42 38 84 90
:
United States ....: 1,734 1,843 1,793 103 97
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month - States and United States:
2023 and 2024
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : During February 2024
: During : During :--------------------------------------------
State :February 2023 : January 2024 : Other : Percent of : Percent of
: : :disappearance :previous year :previous month
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ---------- 1,000 head ---------- ----- percent ----
:
Arizona ..........: 1 1 1 100 100
California .......: 7 6 6 86 100
Colorado .........: 5 10 5 100 50
Idaho ............: 1 1 2 200 200
Iowa .............: 2 2 2 100 100
Kansas ...........: 10 15 10 100 67
Minnesota ........: 1 1 1 100 100
Nebraska .........: 15 25 15 100 60
Oklahoma .........: 1 1 1 100 100
South Dakota .....: 2 1 1 50 100
Texas ............: 10 15 10 100 67
Washington .......: 1 1 1 100 100
:
Other States .....: 2 2 1 50 50
:
United States ....: 58 81 56 97 69
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 0.6 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 0.6 percent. Chances are 9 out of
10 that the difference will not exceed 1.0 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 58,000 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
22 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 ......................: 0.6 1.0 58 0 115 22 0
:
Placements ...................: 0.6 1.0 8 0 24 11 11
:
Marketings ...................: 0.1 0.2 2 0 6 10 8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
Access to NASS Reports
For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following
ways:
All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web
site: www.nass.usda.gov.
Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e-
mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit
www.nass.usda.gov and click on "National" or "State" in upper right
corner above "search" box to create an account and select the reports
you would like to receive.
Cornell's Mann Library has launched a new website housing NASS's and
other agency's archived reports. The new website,
https://usda.library.cornell.edu. All email subscriptions containing
reports will be sent from the new website,
https://usda.library.cornell.edu. To continue receiving the reports via
e-mail, you will have to go to the new website, create a new account
and re-subscribe to the reports. If you need instructions to set up an
account or subscribe, they are located at:
https://usda.library.cornell.edu/help. You should whitelist
notifications@usda-esmis.library.cornell.edu in your email client to
avoid the emails going into spam/junk folders.
For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural
Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail:
nass@usda.gov.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against
its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the basis of race,
color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion,
reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial
or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's
income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic
information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded
by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs
and/or employment activities.)
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination,
complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), found online
at www.ascr.usda.gov/filing-program-discrimination-complaint-usda-customer,
or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may
also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form.
Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue,
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at
program.intake@usda.gov.