Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 12.0 million head on February 1, 2008. The inventory was 2 percent above February 1, 2007 but 1 percent below February 1, 2006. This is the second highest February 1 inventory since the series began in 1996.

Placements in feedlots during January totaled 1.79 million, 6 percent above 2007 but 19 percent below 2006. Net placements were 1.73 million head. During January, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 400,000, 600-699 pounds were 467,000, 700-799 pounds were 525,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 395,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during January totaled 1.86 million, 1 percent above 2007 and 3 percent above 2006.

Other disappearance totaled 60,000 during January, 38 percent below 2007 and 28 percent below 2006.

2007 Cattle on Feed and Annual Size Group Estimates

This report contains the 2007 monthly cattle on feed estimates for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head. Also included are the number of feedlots, inventory, and annual marketings by size group for 2006 and 2007. Data for total U.S. capacity of 1,000 or more head feedlots are also published in this issue. These data are measured by the number of head.

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head represented 84.5 percent of all cattle and calves on feed in the United States on January 1, 2008, up from 83.9 percent on January 1, 2007.

Marketings of fed cattle for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head during 2007 represented 85.9 percent all cattle marketed from feedlots in the United States, down from 86.1 percent during 2006.

Terms and Definitions of Cattle on Feed Estimates

Cattle on feed are animals 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 cattle 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 cattle 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.

Reliability of Cattle on Feed Estimates

Survey Procedures: During January and July all known feedlots in the U.S. 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 17 States are surveyed. The 17 States account for 98 percent of the cattle on feed in feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head.

Estimating Procedures: These cattle on feed estimates were prepared by the Agricultural Statistics Board after reviewing recommendations and analysis submitted by each State office. Regional and State survey data were reviewed for reasonableness with each other and with estimates from the previous month when setting 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.

Further Reading

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