Cattle on Feed - Publication

Cattle on Feed
ISSN: 1948-9080

Released March 17, 2023, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).

United States Cattle on Feed Down 4 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 11.6 million head on March 1, 2023. The inventory was 4 percent below March 1, 2022.
Placements in feedlots during February totaled 1.73 million head, 7 percent below 2022. Net placements were
1.68 million head. During February, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 345,000 head,
600-699 pounds were 315,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 470,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 424,000 head,
900-999 pounds were 130,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 50,000 head.
Marketings of fed cattle during February totaled 1.74 million head, 5 percent below 2022.
Other disappearance totaled 58,000 head during February, 2 percent below 2022.

Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity
Feedlots – United States: March 1, 2022 and 2023
Item

2022
(1,000 head)

On feed February 1 ................................................................................
Placed on feed during February .............................................................
Fed cattle marketed during February ......................................................
Other disappearance during February ....................................................
On feed March 1 ....................................................................................

Percent of
previous year

2023
(1,000 head)

12,209
1,868
1,825
59
12,193

(percent)

11,704
1,734
1,735
58
11,645

96
93
95
98
96

Cattle on Feed Inventory, Placements, Marketings, and Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity
Feedlots – United States: February 1, 2022 and 2023
Item

On feed January 1 .................................................................................
Placed on feed during January ...............................................................
Fed cattle marketed during January .......................................................
Other disappearance during January .....................................................
On feed February 1 ................................................................................

2

2022

2023

Percent of
previous year

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(percent)

12,042
2,004
1,773
64
12,209

11,682
1,931
1,846
63
11,704

97
96
104
98
96

Cattle on Feed (March 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month – States and United States:
2022 and 2023
March 1, 2023
State

March 1, 2022

February 1, 2023

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

Inventory

Percent of
previous year

Percent of
previous month

(1,000 head)

(percent)

(percent)

Arizona ............................
California .........................
Colorado ..........................
Idaho ...............................
Iowa .................................
Kansas ............................
Minnesota ........................
Nebraska .........................
Oklahoma ........................
South Dakota ...................
Texas ..............................
Washington .....................

283
560
1,120
310
620
2,510
100
2,690
300
235
2,940
220

264
520
1,030
325
620
2,450
95
2,570
275
215
2,770
255

260
515
1,010
325
620
2,460
95
2,530
270
215
2,780
255

92
92
90
105
100
98
95
94
90
91
95
116

98
99
98
100
100
100
100
98
98
100
100
100

Other States ....................

305

315

310

102

98

United States ...................

12,193

11,704

11,645

96

99

Cattle on Feed Inventory on 1,000+ Capacity
Feedlots – United States
Million head
12.5

12.0

11.5

11.0
2022

2023

10.5
Jan

Feb

Mar

Cattle on Feed (March 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

3

Cattle Placed on Feed on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month – States and United States:
2022 and 2023
State

During February 2023

During
February 2022

During
January 2023

Placements

Percent of
previous year

Percent of
previous month

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(percent)

(percent)

Arizona ..............................
California ...........................
Colorado ............................
Idaho ..................................
Iowa ...................................
Kansas ...............................
Minnesota ..........................
Nebraska ...........................
Oklahoma ..........................
South Dakota .....................
Texas .................................
Washington ........................

30
61
175
42
116
430
15
495
35
39
350
35

24
61
165
41
105
500
13
490
37
40
380
28

23
55
140
36
105
425
14
435
26
37
360
36

77
90
80
86
91
99
93
88
74
95
103
103

96
90
85
88
100
85
108
89
70
93
95
129

Other States .......................

45

47

42

93

89

United States .....................

1,868

1,931

1,734

93

90

Cattle Placed on 1,000+ Capacity
Feedlots – United States
Million head
2.3

2.1

1.9

1.7
2022

2023

1.5
Jan

4

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cattle on Feed (March 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Cattle Placed on Feed by Weight Group on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots and Month – States and
United States: 2022 and 2023
During February 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 .........
Kansas ...........
Nebraska ........
Texas .............

30
45
35
140

35
75
70
75

45
140
150
75

45
125
160
50

20
45
80
10

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

175
430
495
350

Other States ...

115

75

95

98

35

(D)

(D)

418

United States ..

365

330

505

478

(X)

135

55

1,868

During January 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 .........
Kansas ...........
Nebraska ........
Texas .............

30
55
40
155

40
110
100
85

45
180
150
80

30
110
140
50

20
45
60
10

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

165
500
490
380

Other States ...

125

85

85

71

30

(D)

(D)

396

United States ..

405

420

540

401

(X)

100

65

1,931

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 .........
Kansas ...........
Nebraska ........
Texas .............

25
45
30
145

25
75
65
80

35
145
130
75

35
115
140
50

20
45
70
10

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

140
425
435
360

Other States ...

100

70

85

84

35

(D)

(D)

374

United States ..

345

315

470

424

(X)

130

50

1,734

(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
State

During February 2023

During
February 2022

During
January 2023

Marketings

Percent of
previous year

Percent of
previous month

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(percent)

(percent)

Arizona ..............................
California ...........................
Colorado ............................
Idaho .................................
Iowa ...................................
Kansas ..............................
Minnesota ..........................
Nebraska ...........................
Oklahoma ..........................
South Dakota .....................
Texas ................................
Washington .......................

25
54
190
36
103
450
14
455
44
37
335
34

26
49
170
35
103
430
12
500
36
33
370
37

26
53
155
35
103
405
13
460
30
35
340
35

104
98
82
97
100
90
93
101
68
95
101
103

100
108
91
100
100
94
108
92
83
106
92
95

Other States ......................

48

45

45

94

100

United States .....................

1,825

1,846

1,735

95

94

Cattle on Feed (March 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

5

Cattle Marketed on 1,000+ Capacity
Feedlots – United States
Million head
2.1
2.0
1.9
1.8
1.7
2022

2023

1.6
Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cattle Other Disappearance on 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots by Month – States and United States:
2022 and 2023
State

During
February 2022

During February 2023

During
January 2023

(1,000 head)

Other
disappearance

(1,000 head)

Percent of
previous year

(1,000 head)

Percent of
previous month

(percent)

(percent)

Arizona ..............................
California ...........................
Colorado ............................
Idaho ..................................
Iowa ...................................
Kansas ...............................
Minnesota ..........................
Nebraska ...........................
Oklahoma ..........................
South Dakota .....................
Texas .................................
Washington ........................

1
7
5
1
3
10
1
10
1
2
15
1

1
7
5
1
2
10
1
20
1
2
10
1

1
7
5
1
2
10
1
15
1
2
10
1

100
100
100
100
67
100
100
150
100
100
67
100

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
75
100
100
100
100

Other States .......................

2

2

2

100

100

United States .....................

59

63

58

98

92

6

Cattle on Feed (March 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

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 11.6 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 21,000 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 15 times. This does not
imply that the initial estimate is likely to understate or overstate final inventory.
Cattle on Feed (March 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

7

Reliability of Monthly Cattle on Feed Estimates
[Based on data for the past 24 months]
Item

Difference between first and latest estimate

Root mean
square error

90 percent
confidence
level

Average

Smallest

Largest

(percent)

(percent)

(1,000)

(1,000)

(1,000)

Months
Below latest

Above latest

(number)

(number)

On feed ..........................................

0.3

0.5

21

0

65

15

0

Placements ....................................

0.5

0.9

6

0

23

10

11

Marketings .....................................

0.1

0.2

1

0

7

4

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
Donnie Fike – Dairy Products ................................................................................................................... (202) 690-3347
Anthony Fischer – Hogs and Pigs.............................................................................................................. (202) 720-3106
Mike Miller – Milk Production and Milk Cows ........................................................................................ (202) 720-3278
Suzanne Richards – Sheep and Goats ....................................................................................................... (202) 720-4448

8

Cattle on Feed (March 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

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