Mt An 2-1  (10-08)
Cattle
on Feed
National Agricultural Statistics Service
USDA
Washington, D.C.
Released October 17, 2008, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service 
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.  For 
information on "Cattle on Feed" call Jason Hardegree at (202) 720-3040, 
office hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.
             U.S. Cattle on Feed Down 5 Percent
	
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for 
feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.4 million head on 
October 1, 2008.  The inventory was 5 percent below October 1, 2007 and 
9 percent below October 1, 2006.  The inventory included 6.51 million steers 
and steer calves, down 5 percent from the previous year.  This group 
accounted for 63 percent of the total inventory.  Heifers and heifer calves 
accounted for 3.85 million head, down 5 percent from 2007.  
Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.28 million, 6 percent below 
2007 but 2 percent above 2006.  Net placements were 2.23 million head.  
During September, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 
pounds were 445,000, 600-699 pounds were 415,000, 700-799 pounds were 541,000 
and 800 pounds and greater were 880,000.
Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.81 million, 7 percent 
above 2007 and 3 percent above 2006.  
Other disappearance totaled 51,000 during September, 6 percent below 2007 and 
25 percent below 2006.
          Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and          
                 Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,                 
                       United States, October 1, 2006-2008                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     :          Number          : 2008 as % of  
                 Item                :------------------------------------------
                                     :  2006  :  2007  :  2008  : 2006  : 2007  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     : ------ 1,000 Head ------      Percent    
                                     :                                          
On Feed Sep 1 1/                     : 10,986   10,302    9,997     91      97  
Placed on Feed During Sep            :  2,227    2,415    2,281    102      94  
Fed Cattle Marketed During Sep       :  1,760    1,696    1,812    103     107  
Other Disappearance During Sep 2/    :     68       54       51     75      94  
On Feed Oct 1                        : 11,385   10,967   10,415     91      95  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Cattle and calves on feed are animals for slaughter market being fed a      
    ration of grain or other concentrates and are expected to produce a carcass 
    that will grade select or better.                                           
2/  Includes death loss, movement from feedlots to pasture, and shipments to    
    other feedlots for further feeding.                                         
          Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and          
                 Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,                 
                      United States, September 1, 2006-2008                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     :          Number          : 2008 as % of  
                 Item                :------------------------------------------
                                     :  2006  :  2007  :  2008  : 2006  : 2007  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     : ------ 1,000 Head -----       Percent    
                                     :                                          
On Feed Aug 1 1/                     : 10,822   10,299   9,869     91      96   
Placed on Feed During Aug            :  2,290    2,119   2,061     90      97   
Fed Cattle Marketed During Aug       :  2,067    2,066   1,884     91      91   
Other Disappearance During Aug 2/    :     59       50      49     83      98   
On Feed Sep 1 1/                     : 10,986   10,302   9,997     91      97   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Cattle and calves on feed are animals for slaughter market being fed a      
    ration of grain or other concentrates and are expected to produce a carcass 
    that will grade select or better.                                           
2/  Includes death loss, movement from feedlots to pasture, and shipments to    
    other feedlots for further feeding.                                         
       Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed by Class, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,      
                       United States, October 1, 2006-2008                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     :          Number          : 2008 as % of  
                 Item                :------------------------------------------
                                     :  2006  :  2007  :  2008  : 2006  : 2007  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     : ------ 1,000 Head -----       Percent    
                                     :                                          
Class on Feed Oct 1                  :                                          
  Steers and Steer Calves            : 7,197    6,832    6,513     90      95   
  Heifers and Heifer Calves          : 4,122    4,070    3,848     93      95   
  Cows and Bulls                     :    66       65       54     82      83   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,           
                 by Month, State, and United States 2007-2008 1/                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :               Oct 1, 2008                
       :              :              :------------------------------------------
 State : Oct 1, 2007  : Sep 1, 2008  :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    2007     :     Sep     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :    ------------ 1,000 Head ------------          ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       350           362             360          103            99     
CA     :       540           505             505           94           100     
CO     :       940           770             870           93           113     
ID     :       210           180             195           93           108     
IA     :       510           470             475           93           101     
KS     :     2,310         2,090           2,160           94           103     
NE     :     2,140         1,960           2,110           99           108     
NM     :       133           167             173          130           104     
OK     :       325           305             315           97           103     
SD     :       180           165             175           97           106     
TX     :     2,840         2,580           2,590           91           100     
WA     :       154           138             157          102           114     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:       335           305             330           99           108     
       :                                                                        
US     :    10,967         9,997          10,415           95           104     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Cattle and calves on feed are animals for slaughter market being fed a      
    ration of grain or other concentrates and are expected to produce a carcass 
    that will grade select or better.                                           
        Cattle on Feed:  Number Placed on Feed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,       
                  by Month, State, and United States 2007-2008                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :             During Sep 2008              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Sep 2007   :   Aug 2008   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    2007     :     Aug     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :    ------------ 1,000 Head -----------           ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       28             33             24            86            73     
CA     :       60             37             55            92           149     
CO     :      255            190            255           100           134     
ID     :       48             45             57           119           127     
IA     :      100             72             81            81           113     
KS     :      540            520            485            90            93     
NE     :      540            445            550           102           124     
NM     :       17             27             27           159           100     
OK     :       72             70             60            83            86     
SD     :       43             28             56           130           200     
TX     :      590            510            510            86           100     
WA     :       36             36             44           122           122     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:       86             48             77            90           160     
       :                                                                        
US     :    2,415          2,061          2,281            94           111     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Cattle on Feed:  Number Placed on Feed by Weight Group, 1,000+ Capacity    
             Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States, 2007-2008            
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                          During September                           
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
   State  :  Under 600  :   600-699   :   700-799   :  800 Plus   :    Total    
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                             1,000 Head                              
          :                                                                     
CO        :  35     20     40     30     60     45    120    160     255    255 
KS        : 140     80    140    100    130    155    130    150     540    485 
NE        : 100     80     80     70    120    120    240    280     540    550 
TX        : 190    145    170    150    165    130     65     85     590    510 
          :                                                                     
Oth Sts   : 145    120     75     65     90     91    180    205     490    481 
          :                                                                     
US        : 610    445    505    415    565    541    735    880   2,415  2,281 
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                            During August                            
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          :  Under 600  :   600-699   :   700-799   :  800 Plus   :    Total    
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 : 2007 : 2008 
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                             1,000 Head                              
          :                                                                     
CO        :  25     15     30     20     40     50     75    105     170    190 
KS        : 100     65    120    105    160    190    140    160     520    520 
NE        :  75     60     70     60    115    105    205    220     465    445 
TX        : 160    125    160    170    140    140     60     75     520    510 
          :                                                                     
Oth Sts   : 130    100     60     55     94     81    160    160     444    396 
          :                                                                     
US        : 490    365    440    410    549    566    640    720   2,119  2,061 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Cattle on Feed:  Number Marketed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,          
                  by Month, State, and United States 2007-2008                  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :             During Sep 2008              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Sep 2007   :   Aug 2008   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    2007     :     Aug     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :    ------------ 1,000 Head -----------           ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       24             27             25           104            93     
CA     :       47             45             53           113           118     
CO     :      160            165            150            94            91     
ID     :       41             44             41           100            93     
IA     :       79             75             75            95           100     
KS     :      355            430            400           113            93     
NE     :      320            395            390           122            99     
NM     :       13             23             20           154            87     
OK     :       56             54             49            88            91     
SD     :       37             32             44           119           138     
TX     :      480            510            490           102            96     
WA     :       29             30             24            83            80     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:       55             54             51            93            94     
       :                                                                        
US     :    1,696          1,884          1,812           107            96     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Cattle on Feed:  Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,        
                 by Month, State, and United States 2007-2008 1/                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :             During Sep 2008              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Sep 2007   :   Aug 2008   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    2007     :     Aug     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :      ---------- 1,000 Head ----------            ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       2              1              1             50           100     
CA     :       3              2              2             67           100     
CO     :       5              5              5            100           100     
ID     :       2              1              1             50           100     
IA     :       1              2              1            100            50     
KS     :      15             10             15            100           150     
NE     :      10             10             10            100           100     
NM     :       2              1              1             50           100     
OK     :       1              1              1            100           100     
SD     :       1              1              2            200           200     
TX     :      10             10             10            100           100     
WA     :       1              1              1            100           100     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:       1              4              1            100            25     
       :                                                                        
US     :      54             49             51             94           104     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Includes death loss, movement from feedlots to pasture, and shipments to    
    other feedlots for further feeding.                                         
       Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed by Class, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,      
                 by Quarter, State, and United States, 2007-2008                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        : Steers & Steer Calves :Heifers & Heifer Calves:    Cows and Bulls     
        :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
  State :Oct 1, :Jul 1, :Oct 1, :Oct 1, :Jul 1, :Oct 1, :Oct 1, :Jul 1, :Oct 1, 
        : 2007  : 2008  : 2008  : 2007  : 2008  : 2008  : 2007  : 2008  : 2008  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :                              1,000 Head                               
        :                                                                       
AZ      :   349     354     359       1       2       1     0       0       0   
CA      :   490     470     455      50      50      50     0       0       0   
CO      :   575     485     515     360     330     350     5       5       5   
ID      :   114     112     101      91      86      89     5       2       5   
IA      :   350     335     345     159     165     130     1       0       0   
KS      : 1,220   1,135   1,225   1,065     940     920    25       5      15   
NE      : 1,280   1,270   1,200     850     775     900    10       5      10   
NM      :    82      78      77      51      76      96     0       0       0   
OK      :   220     190     225     105     110      90     0       0       0   
SD      :    87      93      82      80      75      78    13      17      15   
TX      : 1,740   1,600   1,590   1,097   1,059     998     3       1       2   
WA      :    80      65      84      73      74      72     1       1       1   
        :                                                                       
Oth Sts :   245     245     255      88      81      74     2       4       1   
        :                                                                       
US      : 6,832   6,432   6,513   4,070   3,823   3,848    65      40      54   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               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.
 
To assist users in evaluating the reliability of estimates in this report, 
the "Root Mean Square Error" is shown for selected items in the following 
table.  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 less than 0.1 percent (0.04).  This 
means that chances are 2 out of 3 that the final estimate will not be above 
or below the current estimate of 10.4 million head by more than 0.04 percent.  
Chances are 9 out of 10 that the difference will not exceed 0.1 percent.
The following table also 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 2,000 head, ranging 
from 0 to 18,000 head.  During this period the initial estimate has not been 
above the final estimate, but has been below the final estimate 4 times.  
This does not imply that the initial estimate is likely to understate or 
overstate final inventory. 
               Reliability of Monthly Cattle on Feed Estimates 1/               
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :        :      90%       :   Difference Between   :               
             :        :   Confidence   :    First and Final     :   Number of   
             :  Root  :     Level      :      Estimates 1/      :    Months     
     Item    :  Mean  :---------------------------------------------------------
             : Square :       :        :       :        :       : First : First 
             : Error  :Percent: (000)  :Average:Smallest:Largest: Above : Below 
             :        :       :  Head  :       :        :       : Final : Final 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             :     Percent       -------- 1,000 Head --------         Number    
             :                                                                  
Number on    :                                                                  
Feed         :  0.0      0.1     10.4      2       0       18       0       4   
             :                                                                  
Placements   :  0.2      0.3      6.8      3       0       10       5       6   
             :                                                                  
Marketings   :  0.2      0.3      5.4      2       0       10       6       2   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Based on data for the past 24 months.                                       
                              Information Contacts                              
Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the 
National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional 
information.
Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch..............................(202) 720-3570
Livestock Section
Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section..............................(202) 690-2424
	Jim Collom - Dairy Products................................(202) 690-3236
	Joe Gaynor - Dairy Products Prices.........................(202) 690-2168
	Jason Hardegree - Cattle, Cattle on Feed...................(202) 720-3040
	Benita Hodge - Livestock Slaughter.........................(515) 284-4340
	Everett Olbert - Sheep and Goats...........................(202) 720-4751
	Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows................(202) 720-3278
	Nick Streff - Hogs and Pigs................................(202) 720-3106
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