January 29, 2008

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| **Topics in This Report**                                             |
|                                                                       |
| Cattle on Feed                                                        |
|                                                                       |
| Chickens and Eggs                                                     |
|                                                                       |
| Hatchery Production                                                   |
|                                                                       |
| Milk Production                                                       |
|                                                                       |
| Livestock Slaughter                                                   |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for
feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 12.1 million head
on January 1, 2008. The inventory was one percent above January 1, 2007
and two percent above January 1, 2006. This is the highest January 1
inventory since the series began in 1996. The inventory included 7.65
million steers and steer calves, up one percent from the previous year.
This group accounted for 63 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and
heifer calves accounted for 4.38 million head, up two percent from 2007.

Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.70 million, one percent
below 2007 and 10 percent below 2006. Net placements were 1.64 million
head. During December, placements of cattle and calves weighing less
than 600 pounds were 480,000, 600-699 pounds were 505,000, 700-799
pounds were 420,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 296,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during December totaled 1.65 million, one
percent above 2007 but four percent below 2006. This is the second
lowest fed cattle marketings for the month of December since the series
began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 58,000 during December, 34
percent below 2007 and 36 percent below 2006.

+-------+----+------------+----------+----------+---------+----------+
| **[C  |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| attle |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| On    |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| Feed] |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| {.sma |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| llcap |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| s}**: |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| U.S.  |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| C     |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| attle |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| P     |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| laced |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| on    |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| Feed, |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| by    |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| W     |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| eight |    |            |          |          |         |          |
|       |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| Gr    |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| oups, |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| 1     |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| ,000+ |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| Cap   |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| acity |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| Feed  |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| lots, |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| Dec.  |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| 2006, |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| Nov.  |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| and   |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| Dec.  |    |            |          |          |         |          |
| 2007  |    |            |          |          |         |          |
+-------+----+------------+----------+----------+---------+----------+
| Month |    | Less than  | 600-699  | 700-799  | 800+    | Total    |
| and   |    | 600 lbs    | lbs      | lbs      | lbs     |          |
| Year  |    |            |          |          |         |          |
+-------+----+------------+----------+----------+---------+----------+
|       |    | *1,000     |          |          |         |          |
|       |    | head*      |          |          |         |          |
+-------+----+------------+----------+----------+---------+----------+
| Dec   | 20 | 470        | 504      | 420      | 320     | 1,714    |
| ember | 06 |            |          |          |         |          |
+-------+----+------------+----------+----------+---------+----------+
| Nov   | 20 | 685        | \*668    | 420      | 361     | \*2,134  |
| ember | 07 |            |          |          |         |          |
+-------+----+------------+----------+----------+---------+----------+
| Dec   | 20 | 480        | 505      | 420      | 296     | 1,701    |
| ember | 07 |            |          |          |         |          |
+-------+----+------------+----------+----------+---------+----------+

\*Revised

<table>
<colgroup>
<col style="width: 8%" />
<col style="width: 11%" />
<col style="width: 8%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 8%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 8%" />
<col style="width: 8%" />
<col style="width: 7%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
<col style="width: 9%" />
</colgroup>
<thead>
<tr class="header">
<th colspan="11"><strong><span class="smallcaps">Cattle and Calves on
Feed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots, and United States</span></strong></th>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<th rowspan="2">State</th>
<th colspan="2"><p>Number on feed</p>
<p>Dec. 1</p></th>
<th colspan="2"><p>Placed during</p>
<p>Dec. 1</p></th>
<th colspan="2"><p>Marketed</p>
<p>during Dec.</p></th>
<th colspan="2"><p>Other disappearance</p>
<p>during Dec.</p></th>
<th colspan="2"><p>Number on feed</p>
<p>January 1</p></th>
</tr>
<tr class="header">
<th>2006</th>
<th>2007</th>
<th>2006</th>
<th>2007</th>
<th>2006</th>
<th>2007</th>
<th>2006</th>
<th>2007</th>
<th>2007</th>
<th>2008</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td></td>
<td colspan="10"><em>1,000 head</em></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>AZ</td>
<td>341</td>
<td>367</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>31</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>334</td>
<td>368</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>CA</td>
<td>540</td>
<td>555</td>
<td>77</td>
<td>67</td>
<td>63</td>
<td>60</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>550</td>
<td>560</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>CO</td>
<td>1,120</td>
<td>1,070</td>
<td>135</td>
<td>170</td>
<td>150</td>
<td>135</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>1,100</td>
<td>1,100</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>ID</td>
<td>270</td>
<td>240</td>
<td>39</td>
<td>39</td>
<td>41</td>
<td>42</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>260</td>
<td>235</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>IA</td>
<td>500</td>
<td>570</td>
<td>82</td>
<td>71</td>
<td>59</td>
<td>69</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>520</td>
<td>570</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>KS</td>
<td>2,550</td>
<td>2,500</td>
<td>410</td>
<td>385</td>
<td>390</td>
<td>390</td>
<td>30</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>2,540</td>
<td>2,480</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>NE</td>
<td>2,510</td>
<td>2,520</td>
<td>390</td>
<td>355</td>
<td>350</td>
<td>335</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>2,540</td>
<td>2,530</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>NM</td>
<td>137</td>
<td>*149</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>136</td>
<td>160</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>OK</td>
<td>350</td>
<td>345</td>
<td>46</td>
<td>44</td>
<td>42</td>
<td>37</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>350</td>
<td>350</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>SD</td>
<td>210</td>
<td>215</td>
<td>50</td>
<td>50</td>
<td>32</td>
<td>33</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>225</td>
<td>230</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>TX</td>
<td>2,900</td>
<td>3,010</td>
<td>370</td>
<td>380</td>
<td>385</td>
<td>420</td>
<td>15</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>2,870</td>
<td>2,960</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>WA</td>
<td>185</td>
<td>168</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>25</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>28</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>184</td>
<td>164</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>Oth. Sts.</td>
<td>360</td>
<td>390</td>
<td>50</td>
<td>63</td>
<td>43</td>
<td>59</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>365</td>
<td>390</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>U.S.</td>
<td>11,973</td>
<td>*12,099</td>
<td>1,714</td>
<td>1,701</td>
<td>1,625</td>
<td>1,645</td>
<td>88</td>
<td>58</td>
<td>11,974</td>
<td>12,097</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

\*Revised

**CHICKENS AND EGGS**

**[Florida]{.smallcaps}**

Table egg production in Florida during December was 240 million eggs,
four percent above the previous month. Total egg production was 248
million eggs compared to 238 million eggs the previous month.

**[United States]{.smallcaps}**

U.S. egg production totaled 7.76 billion during December 2007, down
slightly from last year. Production included 6.63 billion table eggs,
and 1.13 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.06 billion were broiler-type
and 67 million were egg-type. The total number of layers during December
2007 averaged 344 million, down one percent from last year. December egg
production per 100 layers was 2,256 eggs, up one percent from December
2006.

All layers in the U.S. on January 1, 2008, totaled 345 million, down one
percent from last year. The 345 million layers consisted of 285 million
layers producing table or market type eggs, 57.2 million layers
producing broiler-type hatching eggs, and 2.75 million layers producing
egg-type hatching eggs. Rate of lay per day on January 1, 2008, averaged
72.4 eggs per 100 layers, up two percent from January 1, 2007.

+--------------------------------+------------------+-----------------+
| **[Mid-month table egg prices  |                  |                 |
| received]{.smallcaps}**        |                  |                 |
|                                |                  |                 |
| **[by Florida egg              |                  |                 |
| producers.]{.smallcaps}**      |                  |                 |
+--------------------------------+------------------+-----------------+
| Month                          | Cents per dozen  |                 |
+--------------------------------+------------------+-----------------+
|                                | 2006             | 2007            |
+--------------------------------+------------------+-----------------+
| January                        | 60.0             | 75.0            |
+--------------------------------+------------------+-----------------+
| February                       | 36.0             | 68.0            |
+--------------------------------+------------------+-----------------+
| March                          | 59.0             | 70.0            |
+--------------------------------+------------------+-----------------+
| April                          | 34.0             | 55.0            |
+--------------------------------+------------------+-----------------+
| May                            | 27.0             | 65.0            |
+--------------------------------+------------------+-----------------+
| June                           | 45.0             | 49.0            |
+--------------------------------+------------------+-----------------+
| July                           | 32.0             | 79.0            |
+--------------------------------+------------------+-----------------+
| August                         | 45.0             | 73.0            |
+--------------------------------+------------------+-----------------+
| September                      | 44.0             | 97.0            |
+--------------------------------+------------------+-----------------+
| October                        | 41.0             | 85.0            |
+--------------------------------+------------------+-----------------+
| November                       | 68.0             | 100.0           |
+--------------------------------+------------------+-----------------+
| December                       | 66.0             | 137.0           |
+--------------------------------+------------------+-----------------+

+-----------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+
| **[Fl                 |           |          |          |          |
| orida]{.smallcaps}**: |           |          |          |          |
| Layers on hand first  |           |          |          |          |
| of month,             |           |          |          |          |
|                       |           |          |          |          |
| percent molting and   |           |          |          |          |
| molted                |           |          |          |          |
+-----------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+
|                       | Jan       | Nov      | Dec      | Jan      |
|                       |           |          |          |          |
|                       | 2007      | 2007     | 2007     | 2008     |
+-----------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+
| Total layers on       | 11,301    | 10,813   | 10,914   | 10,960   |
|                       |           |          |          |          |
| hand: Thous.          |           |          |          |          |
+-----------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+
| Percent of layers:    | 7.0       | 2.5      | 1.5      | 3.0      |
|                       |           |          |          |          |
| Being molted          |           |          |          |          |
+-----------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+
| Molt completed        | 36.0      | 38.5     | 37.0     | 35.0     |
+-----------------------+-----------+----------+----------+----------+

+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| *        |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| *[Layers |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| and egg  |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| pro      |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| duction, |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| December |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| 2007,    |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| pr       |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| oduction |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| year-    |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| to-date, |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| egg      |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| p        |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| roductio |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| n]{.smal |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| lcaps}** |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
|          |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| **[for   |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| selected |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| States   |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| and      |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| united   |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| state    |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| s]{.smal |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| lcaps}** |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| Selected | Av    | Eggs | Egg |     |       |      | La   |       |
|          | erage |      | p   |     |       |      | yers |       |
| States   |       | per  | rod |     |       |      |      |       |
|          | l     | 100  | uct |     |       |      |      |       |
|          | ayers |      | ion |     |       |      |      |       |
|          |       | la   |     |     |       |      |      |       |
|          | on    | yers |     |     |       |      |      |       |
|          | hand  |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
|          |       |      | To  | Ta  | Hat   | Year | B    | Molt  |
|          |       |      | tal | ble | ching | to   | eing |       |
|          |       |      |     |     |       |      | mo   | Comp  |
|          |       |      |     |     |       | date | lted | leted |
|          |       |      |     |     |       | ^1/^ |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| * *      | *Thou | * *  | *   |     |       |      | *    |       |
|          | sand* |      | Mil |     |       |      | Perc |       |
|          |       |      | lio |     |       |      | ent* |       |
|          |       |      | ns* |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| Alabama  | 9,518 | 1    | 185 | 33  | 152   | 185  | 1.0  | 6.0   |
|          |       | ,944 |     |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| Arkansas | 1     | 1    | 277 | 96  | 181   | 277  | 2.5  | 12.5  |
|          | 4,108 | ,963 |     |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| Ca       | 1     | 2    | 435 |     |       | 435  | 9.0  | 31.5  |
| lifornia | 9,431 | ,239 |     |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| **F      | **10, | *    | *   | *   | **8** | **2  | **3  | **3   |
| lorida** | 938** | *2,2 | *24 | *24 |       | 48** | .0** | 5.0** |
|          |       | 67** | 8** | 0** |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| Georgia  | 1     | 2    | 412 | 225 | 187   | 412  | 1.5  | 14.0  |
|          | 9,312 | ,133 |     |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| Indiana  | 2     | 2    | 555 | 542 | 13    | 555  | 4.0  | 32.0  |
|          | 4,006 | ,312 |     |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| Iowa     | 5     | 2    | 1,  | 1,  | 15    | 1    | 2.5  | 35.0  |
|          | 3,908 | ,245 | 210 | 195 |       | ,210 |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| Maine    | 3,885 | 2    | 80  |     |       | 80   | 0.0  | 0.0   |
|          |       | ,059 |     |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| Maryland | 2,756 | 2    | 60  | 58  | 2     | 60   | 8.0  | 11.5  |
|          |       | ,177 |     |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| Michigan | 9,160 | 2    | 227 |     |       | 227  | 0.0  | 17.5  |
|          |       | ,478 |     |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| M        | 1     | 2    | 243 | 235 | 8     | 243  | 2.0  | 28.0  |
| innesota | 0,232 | ,375 |     |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| Mis      | 6,410 | 2    | 130 | 40  | 90    | 130  | 2.0  | 9.5   |
| sissippi |       | ,028 |     |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| Missouri | 6,779 | 2    | 156 |     |       | 156  | 4.0  | 14.5  |
|          |       | ,301 |     |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| Nebraska | 1     | 2    | 244 | 244 | 0     | 244  | 0.0  | 12.5  |
|          | 0,246 | ,381 |     |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| New York | 4,227 | 2    | 105 |     |       | 105  | 2.5  | 6.0   |
|          |       | ,484 |     |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| North    | 1     | 2    | 265 | 123 | 142   | 265  | 0.0  | 8.1   |
| Carolina | 2,577 | ,107 |     |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| Ohio     | 2     | 2    | 629 |     |       | 629  | 2.5  | 15.5  |
|          | 6,825 | ,345 |     |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| Penn     | 2     | 2    | 543 | 523 | 20    | 543  | 1.5  | 14.5  |
| sylvania | 2,067 | ,461 |     |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| South    | 4,487 | 2    | 99  | 77  | 22    | 99   | 2.5  | 25.0  |
| Carolina |       | ,206 |     |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| Texas    | 1     | 2    | 435 |     |       | 435  | 4.5  | 25.0  |
|          | 9,062 | ,282 |     |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| Virginia | 3,207 | 2    | 66  | 33  | 33    | 66   | 0.0  | 26.5  |
|          |       | ,058 |     |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| Wa       | 4,706 | 2    | 104 |     |       | 104  | 5.0  | 43.0  |
| shington |       | ,210 |     |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| United   | 34    | 2    | 7,  | 6,  | 1,129 | 7    | 2.8  | 22.6  |
| States   | 4,089 | ,256 | 763 | 633 |       | ,763 |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+
| ^1/^     |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| Pr       |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| oduction |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| year     |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| begins   |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| December |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
| 1.       |       |      |     |     |       |      |      |       |
+----------+-------+------+-----+-----+-------+------+------+-------+

> **HATCHERY PRODUCTION**
>
> **[Florida]{.smallcaps}**
>
> The December hatch of broiler-type chicks, at 4,974,000, was two
> percent above a year earlier. Broiler-type eggs in incubators on
> January 1, at 4,031,000, was slightly above a year ago.
>
> **[United States]{.smallcaps}**
>
> Broiler-type chicks hatched during December 2007 totaled 823 million,
> up three percent from December 2006. Eggs in incubators totaled 677
> million on January 1, 2008, up four percent from a year earlier.
>
> Leading breeders placed 6.75 million broiler-type pullet chicks for
> future domestic hatchery supply flocks during December 2007, down six
> percent from December 2006.
>
> Egg-type chicks hatched during December 2007 totaled 35.5 million, up
> seven percent from December 2006. Eggs in incubators totaled 35.8
> million on January 1, 2008, up four percent from a year ago.
>
> Domestic placements of egg-type pullet chicks for future hatchery
> supply flocks by leading breeders totaled 245 thousand during December
> 2007, up four percent from December 2006.

+-----------------------------------+-----------+-----------+---+--------+
| **[Hatchery production, United    |           |           |   |        |
| States]{.smallcaps}**             |           |           |   |        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------+-----------+---+--------+
| Item                              | 2006      | 2007      | 2 |        |
|                                   |           |           | 0 |        |
|                                   |           |           | 0 |        |
|                                   |           |           | 7 |        |
|                                   |           |           |   |        |
|                                   |           |           | \ |        |
|                                   |           |           | % |        |
|                                   |           |           | o |        |
|                                   |           |           | f |        |
|                                   |           |           |   |        |
|                                   |           |           | 2 |        |
|                                   |           |           | 0 |        |
|                                   |           |           | 0 |        |
|                                   |           |           | 6 |        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------+-----------+---+--------+
|                                   | *- -      |           |   |        |
|                                   | Th        |           |   |        |
|                                   | ousands - |           |   |        |
|                                   | -*        |           |   |        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------+-----------+---+--------+
| **[Egg-Type:]{.smallcaps}**       | 34,383    | 35,828    | 1 |        |
|                                   |           |           | 0 |        |
| > Eggs in incubators: Jan 1       |           |           | 4 |        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------+-----------+---+--------+
| > Chicks hatched during Dec       | 33,183    | 35,543    | 1 |        |
|                                   |           |           | 0 |        |
|                                   |           |           | 7 |        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------+-----------+---+--------+
| > Pullets hatched during Dec      | 205       | 245       | 1 |        |
| >                                 |           |           | 2 |        |
| > for intended placements         |           |           | 0 |        |
| >                                 |           |           |   |        |
| > in hatchery supply flocks       |           |           |   |        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------+-----------+---+--------+
| > 7-18 months earlier ^1/^        | 2,847     | 2,906     | 1 |        |
|                                   |           |           | 0 |        |
|                                   |           |           | 2 |        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------+-----------+---+--------+
| **[Broiler-Type]{.smallcaps}**:   |           |           |   |        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------+-----------+---+--------+
| > Eggs in incubators: Jan 1       | 652,507   | 677,028   |   | 104    |
+-----------------------------------+-----------+-----------+---+--------+
| > Chicks hatched during Dec       | 796,523   | 823,327   |   | 103    |
+-----------------------------------+-----------+-----------+---+--------+
| > Pullets hatched during Dec      | 7,176     | 6,749     |   | 94     |
| >                                 |           |           |   |        |
| > for intended placements         |           |           |   |        |
| >                                 |           |           |   |        |
| > in hatchery supply flocks       |           |           |   |        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------+-----------+---+--------+
| > 7-15 months earlier ^2/^        | 64,040    | 64,597    |   | 101    |
+-----------------------------------+-----------+-----------+---+--------+
| ^1/^2007 includes pullet chicks   |           |           |   |        |
| hatched June 2006 through May     |           |           |   |        |
| 2007.                             |           |           |   |        |
|                                   |           |           |   |        |
| ^2/^2007 includes pullet chicks   |           |           |   |        |
| hatched Sept 2006 through May     |           |           |   |        |
| 2007.                             |           |           |   |        |
+-----------------------------------+-----------+-----------+---+--------+

**MILK PRODUCTION**

**[Florida]{.smallcaps}**

Florida dairy farms produced 172 million pounds of milk during December
2007, down three percent from the previous December. Production per cow
in December of 1,390 pounds was two percent above last year. Milk cow
numbers on Florida dairy farms in December totaled 124,000, five percent
below last year.

**[United States]{.smallcaps}**

Milk production in the 23 major States during December totaled 14.4
billion pounds, up 3.1 percent from December 2006. November revised
production at 13.8 billion pounds, was up 3.9 percent from November
2006. The November revision represented an increase of 13 million pounds
or 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate.

Production per cow in the 23 major States averaged 1,719 pounds for
December, 29 pounds above December 2006.

The number of milk cows on farms in the 23 major States was 8.38 million
head, 107,000 head more than December 2006, and 14,000 head more than
November 2007

+----------------------+-------+-----------+------------+------------+
| **[Milk cows and     |       |           |            |            |
| production, Florida  |       |           |            |            |
| and                  |       |           |            |            |
| U.S.]{.smallcaps}**  |       |           |            |            |
+----------------------+-------+-----------+------------+------------+
| Month                |       | Milk      | Monthly    |            |
|                      |       |           | milk       |            |
| and year             |       | cows      |            |            |
|                      |       |           | production |            |
+----------------------+-------+-----------+------------+------------+
|                      |       |           | Per cow    | Monthly    |
|                      |       |           |            | Total      |
+----------------------+-------+-----------+------------+------------+
|                      |       | *Thous.*  | *Lbs.*     | *Mil.      |
|                      |       |           |            | Lbs.*      |
+----------------------+-------+-----------+------------+------------+
| **[Flo               |       |           |            |            |
| rida:]{.smallcaps}** |       |           |            |            |
+----------------------+-------+-----------+------------+------------+
| December             | 2006  | 130       | 1,360      | 177        |
+----------------------+-------+-----------+------------+------------+
| November             | 2007  | 125       | 1,200      | 150        |
+----------------------+-------+-----------+------------+------------+
| December             | 2007  | 124       | 1,390      | 172        |
+----------------------+-------+-----------+------------+------------+
| **[23 Major          |       |           |            |            |
| St                   |       |           |            |            |
| ates]{.smallcaps}**: |       |           |            |            |
+----------------------+-------+-----------+------------+------------+
| December             | 2006  | 8,276     | 1,690      | 13,983     |
+----------------------+-------+-----------+------------+------------+
| November             | 2007  | 8,369     | 1,654      | 13,846     |
+----------------------+-------+-----------+------------+------------+
| December             | 2007  | 8,383     | 1,719      | 14,414     |
+----------------------+-------+-----------+------------+------------+
| **[United            |       |           |            |            |
| St                   |       |           |            |            |
| ates]{.smallcaps}**: |       |           |            |            |
+----------------------+-------+-----------+------------+------------+
| December             | 2006  | 9,126     | 1,669      | 15,231     |
+----------------------+-------+-----------+------------+------------+
| November             | 2007  | 9,196     | 1,633      | 14,523     |
+----------------------+-------+-----------+------------+------------+
| December             | 2007  | 9,211     | 1,698      | 15,636     |
+----------------------+-------+-----------+------------+------------+

+---------+---------+---+--------+--------+--------+---+---------+---------+
| **[Milk |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| pro     |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| duction |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| by      |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| qu      |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| arters, |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| United  |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| States] |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| {.small |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| caps}** |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
+---------+---------+---+--------+--------+--------+---+---------+---------+
| Month   | Milk    |   |        | Milk   |        | M |         |         |
|         | cows    |   |        | per    |        | i |         |         |
|         | ^1/^    |   |        | cow    |        | l |         |         |
|         |         |   |        | ^2/^   |        | k |         |         |
|         |         |   |        |        |        | P |         |         |
|         |         |   |        |        |        | r |         |         |
|         |         |   |        |        |        | o |         |         |
|         |         |   |        |        |        | d |         |         |
|         |         |   |        |        |        | u |         |         |
|         |         |   |        |        |        | c |         |         |
|         |         |   |        |        |        | t |         |         |
|         |         |   |        |        |        | i |         |         |
|         |         |   |        |        |        | o |         |         |
|         |         |   |        |        |        | n |         |         |
+---------+---------+---+--------+--------+--------+---+---------+---------+
|         | 2006    |   | 2007   | 2006   | 2007   | 2 |         | 2007    |
|         |         |   |        |        |        | 0 |         |         |
|         |         |   |        |        |        | 0 |         |         |
|         |         |   |        |        |        | 6 |         |         |
+---------+---------+---+--------+--------+--------+---+---------+---------+
|         | *Th     |   |        | *P     |        | * |         |         |
|         | ousand* |   |        | ounds* |        | M |         |         |
|         |         |   |        |        |        | i |         |         |
|         |         |   |        |        |        | l |         |         |
|         |         |   |        |        |        | . |         |         |
|         |         |   |        |        |        | L |         |         |
|         |         |   |        |        |        | b |         |         |
|         |         |   |        |        |        | s |         |         |
|         |         |   |        |        |        | . |         |         |
|         |         |   |        |        |        | * |         |         |
+---------+---------+---+--------+--------+--------+---+---------+---------+
| Jan-Mar | 9,092   | 9 |        | 5,010  | 5,039  |   | 45,547  | 46,006  |
|         |         | , |        |        |        |   |         |         |
|         |         | 1 |        |        |        |   |         |         |
|         |         | 3 |        |        |        |   |         |         |
|         |         | 0 |        |        |        |   |         |         |
+---------+---------+---+--------+--------+--------+---+---------+---------+
| Apr-Jun | 9,128   | 9 |        | 5,141  | 5,195  |   | 46,930  | 47,429  |
|         |         | , |        |        |        |   |         |         |
|         |         | 1 |        |        |        |   |         |         |
|         |         | 2 |        |        |        |   |         |         |
|         |         | 9 |        |        |        |   |         |         |
+---------+---------+---+--------+--------+--------+---+---------+---------+
| Jul-Sep | 9,113   | ^ |        | 4,906  | 5,037  |   | 44,710  | ^3/     |
|         |         | 3 |        |        |        |   |         | ^46,119 |
|         |         | / |        |        |        |   |         |         |
|         |         | ^ |        |        |        |   |         |         |
|         |         | 9 |        |        |        |   |         |         |
|         |         | , |        |        |        |   |         |         |
|         |         | 1 |        |        |        |   |         |         |
|         |         | 5 |        |        |        |   |         |         |
|         |         | 6 |        |        |        |   |         |         |
+---------+---------+---+--------+--------+--------+---+---------+---------+
| Oct-Dec | 9,115   | 9 |        | 4,894  | 5,008  |   | 44,611  | 46,045  |
|         |         | , |        |        |        |   |         |         |
|         |         | 1 |        |        |        |   |         |         |
|         |         | 9 |        |        |        |   |         |         |
|         |         | 5 |        |        |        |   |         |         |
+---------+---------+---+--------+--------+--------+---+---------+---------+
| Annual  | 9,112   | 9 |        | 19,951 | 20,277 |   | 181,798 | 185,599 |
|         |         | , |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| Total   |         | 1 |        |        |        |   |         |         |
|         |         | 5 |        |        |        |   |         |         |
|         |         | 3 |        |        |        |   |         |         |
+---------+---------+---+--------+--------+--------+---+---------+---------+
| ^1/^    |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| I       |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| ncludes |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| dry     |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| cows.   |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| E       |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| xcludes |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| heifers |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| not yet |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| fresh.  |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
|         |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| ^2/^    |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| E       |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| xcludes |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| milk    |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| fed to  |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| calves. |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
|         |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| ^3/^    |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| R       |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
| evised. |         |   |        |        |        |   |         |         |
+---------+---------+---+--------+--------+--------+---+---------+---------+

+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| **[Commercial slaughter  |        |       |       |       |         |
| and red meat production, |        |       |       |       |         |
| Florida and United       |        |       |       |       |         |
| States]{.smallcaps}**    |        |       |       |       |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| Source                   | De     | Nov   | Dec   | Year  | Year to |
|                          | cember | ember | ember | to    |         |
| and kind                 |        |       |       | date  | date    |
|                          | 2006   | 2007  | 2007  |       |         |
|                          |        |       |       | 2006  | 2007    |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| *                        |        |       |       |       |         |
| *[Florida]{.smallcaps}** |        |       |       |       |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > [Hogs:]{.smallcaps}    |        |       |       |       |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > Head slaughtered       | 13     | 8     | 7     | 96    | 91      |
| > (1,000 head)           |        |       |       |       |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > Total liveweight       | 1,610  | 1,137 | 1,014 | 1     | 12,794  |
| > (1,000 pounds)         |        |       |       | 2,643 |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > [Sheep and             |        |       |       |       |         |
| > Lambs:]{.smallcaps}    |        |       |       |       |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > Head slaughtered       | 0.3    | 0.1   | 0.1   | 2.8   | 2.6     |
| > (1,000 head)           |        |       |       |       |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > Total liveweight       | 18     | 11    | 6     | 172   | 158     |
| > (1,000 pounds)         |        |       |       |       |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| Red meat production      | 6.6    | 8.2   | 7.2   | 66.6  | 86.8    |
| (million pounds)         |        |       |       |       |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| **[United                |        |       |       |       |         |
| States]{.smallcaps}**    |        |       |       |       |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > [Cattle:]{.smallcaps}  |        |       |       |       |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > Head slaughtered       | 2,613  | 2,831 | 2,645 | 3     | 34,259  |
| > (1,000 head)           |        |       |       | 3,699 |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > Total liveweight       | 3,385  | 3,678 | 3,431 | 4     | 43,474  |
| > (million pounds)       |        |       |       | 2,819 |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > Average liveweight     | 1,300  | 1,304 | 1,302 | 1,275 | 1,273   |
| > (pounds)               |        |       |       |       |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > Beef production        | 2,050  | 2,229 | 2,059 | 2     | 26,415  |
| > (million pounds)       |        |       |       | 6,152 |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > [Calves:]{.smallcaps}  |        |       |       |       |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > Head slaughtered       | 68     | 59    | 61    | 711   | 758     |
| > (1,000 head)           |        |       |       |       |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > Total liveweight       | 22     | 17    | 17    | 245   | 230     |
| > (million pounds)       |        |       |       |       |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > Average liveweight     | 324    | 291   | 289   | 345   | 305     |
| > (pounds)               |        |       |       |       |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > Veal production        | 13     | 10    | 10    | 147   | 137     |
| > (million pounds)       |        |       |       |       |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > [Hogs:]{.smallcaps}    |        |       |       |       |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > Head slaughtered       | 8,883  | 1     | 9,691 | 10    | 109,172 |
| > (1,000 head)           |        | 0,051 |       | 4,737 |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > Total liveweight       | 2,402  | 2,735 | 2,633 | 2     | 29,312  |
| > (million pounds)       |        |       |       | 8,142 |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > Average liveweight     | 271    | 272   | 272   | 269   | 269     |
| > (pounds)               |        |       |       |       |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > Pork production        | 1,796  | 2,045 | 1,973 | 2     | 21,942  |
| > (million pounds)       |        |       |       | 1,053 |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > [Sheep and             |        |       |       |       |         |
| > Lambs:]{.smallcaps}    |        |       |       |       |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > Head slaughtered       | 227    | 237   | 229   | 2,699 | 2,692   |
| > (1,000 head)           |        |       |       |       |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > Total liveweight       | 31     | 32    | 31    | 367   | 355     |
| > (1,000 pounds)         |        |       |       |       |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| > Lamb and Mutton        | 15     | 16    | 15    | 185   | 183     |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
| Red meat production      | 3,875  | 4,301 | 4,058 | 4     | 48,677  |
| (million pounds)         |        |       |       | 7,537 |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+
|                          |        |       |       |       |         |
+--------------------------+--------+-------+-------+-------+---------+

> **LIVESTOCK SLAUGHTER**
>
> Commercial red meat production in Florida for December 2007 was 7.2
> million pounds, nine percent above same month last year. Commercial
> production of red meat in the United States for December, at 4.06
> billion pounds was five percent above 2006.