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