HDR1012000130010815971500CATTLE ON FEED                                         
                                                                                
                                                                                
     National                                                                   
     Agricultural                                                               
     Statistics                                                                 
     Service                                                                    
                                                                                
USDA                                                                            
Washington, D.C.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Released August 15, 1997, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service       
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, U.S. Department of Agriculture.  For     
information on "Cattle on Feed" call Dean Groskurth at (202) 720-3040, office   
hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                 U.S. Cattle on Feed Up 16 Percent                              
                                                                                
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots
with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 8.79 million head on August 1, 1997.
The inventory was 16 percent above August 1, 1996.                              
                                                                                
Placements in feedlots during July totaled 2.0 million, 14 percent above 1996.  
Net placements were 1.94 million.  During July, placements of cattle and calves 
weighing less than 600 pounds were 360,000, 600-699 pounds were 379,000, 700-799
pounds were 644,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 612,000.                   
                                                                                
Marketings of fed cattle during July totaled 2.11 million, 6 percent above 1996 
                                                                                
Other disappearance totaled 57,000 during July, 8 percent below the previous    
year.                                                                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
         Cattle on Feed in Historic 7 States Up 19 Percent                      
                                                                                
Cattle on feed August 1, 1997, in the historic 7 States for feedlots with       
capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 7.56 million, up 19 percent from the     
previous year and up 2 percent from August 1, 1995.                             
                                                                                
Placements in feedlots during July totaled 1.75 million, 18 percent above 1996  
and 25 percent above 1995.                                                      
                                                                                
Marketings during July totaled 1.83 million, 9 percent  above 1996 and 8 percent
above 1995.                                                                     
                                                                                
Other disappearance during July was 42,000 head, 9 percent below 1996 and 14    
percent below 1995.                                                             
                                                                                
                                                                                
          Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and          
                 Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,                 
                        United States, August 1, 1996-97                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :           Number           : 1997 as % of 
                Item                :-------------------------------------------
                                    :     1996     :    1997     :     1996     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :    ---- 1,000 Head ----        Percent    
                                    :                                           
On Feed Jul 1 1/                    :    7,840          8,958          114      
Placed on Feed During Jul           :    1,746          1,995          114      
Fed Cattle Marketed During Jul      :    1,978          2,106          106      
Other Disappearance During Jul 2/   :       62             57           92      
On Feed Aug 1 1/                    :    7,546          8,790          116      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 losses, movement from feedlots to pastures 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, July 1, 1996-97                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :           Number           : 1997 as % of 
                Item                :-------------------------------------------
                                    :     1996     :    1997     :     1996     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :    ---- 1,000 Head ----        Percent    
                                    :                                           
On Feed Jun 1 1/                    :    8,601          9,615          112      
Placed on Feed During Jun           :    1,305          1,444          111      
Fed Cattle Marketed During Jun      :    1,996          2,041          102      
Other Disappearance During Jun 2/   :       70             60           86      
On Feed Jul 1 1/                    :    7,840          8,958          114      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 losses, movement from feedlots to pastures and shipments to  
    other feedlots for further feeding.                                         
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
          Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and          
                 Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,                 
                         7 States, August 1, 1995-97 1/                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   :          Number          :  1997 as % of   
                Item               :--------------------------------------------
                                   :  1995  :  1996  :  1997  :  1995  :  1996  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   : ------ 1,000 Head -----        Percent     
                                   :                                            
On Feed Jul 1 2/                   : 7,734    6,578    7,679      99      117   
Placed on Feed During Jul          : 1,404    1,483    1,751     125      118   
Fed Cattle Marketed During Jul     : 1,698    1,678    1,832     108      109   
Other Disappearance During Jul 3/  :    49       46       42      86       91   
On Feed Aug 1 2/                   : 7,391    6,337    7,556     102      119   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  The 7 States include AZ, CA, CO, IA, KS, NE, and TX.                        
2/  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.                                           
3/  Includes death losses, movement from feedlots to pastures and shipments to  
    other feedlots for further feeding.                                         
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
          Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and          
                 Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,                 
                          7 States, July 1, 1995-97 1/                          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   :          Number          :  1997 as % of   
                Item               :--------------------------------------------
                                   :  1995  :  1996  :  1997  :  1995  :  1996  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   : ------ 1,000 Head -----        Percent     
                                   :                                            
On Feed Jun 1 2/                   : 8,182    7,253    8,231     101      113   
Placed on Feed During Jun          : 1,356    1,068    1,224      90      115   
Fed Cattle Marketed During Jun     : 1,754    1,696    1,732      99      102   
Other Disappearance During Jun 3/  :    50       47       44      88       94   
On Feed Jul 1 2/                   : 7,734    6,578    7,679      99      117   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  The 7 States include AZ, CA, CO, IA, KS, NE, and TX.                        
2/  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.                                           
3/  Includes death losses, movement from feedlots to pastures and shipments to  
    other feedlots for further feeding.                                         
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
           Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,           
                  by Month, State, and United States 1996-97 1/                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :               Aug 1, 1997                
       :              :              :------------------------------------------
 State : Aug 1, 1996  : Jul 1, 1997  :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1996     :     Jul     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :    ------------ 1,000 Head -----------           ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :      177            189            176            99            93     
CA     :      345            390            380           110            97     
CO     :      660            920            920           139           100     
ID     :      230            215            205            89            95     
IA     :      225            280            270           120            96     
KS     :    1,700          1,960          2,000           118           102     
NE     :    1,210          1,540          1,500           124            97     
NM     :       94             90             87            93            97     
OK     :      315            335            330           105            99     
SD     :      105            124            109           104            88     
TX     :    2,020          2,400          2,310           114            96     
WA     :      145            140            148           102           106     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:      320            375            355           111            95     
       :                                                                        
US     :    7,546          8,958          8,790           116            98     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 1996-97                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :             During Jul 1997              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Jul 1996   :   Jun 1997   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1996     :     Jun     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :    ------------ 1,000 Head -----------           ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       41             27             26            63            96     
CA     :       50             50             45            90            90     
CO     :      145            125            235           162           188     
ID     :       59             40             43            73           108     
IA     :       32             37             45           141           122     
KS     :      495            335            570           115           170     
NE     :      310            220            370           119           168     
NM     :       14             20             15           107            75     
OK     :       74             67             81           109           121     
SD     :       14             17             12            86            71     
TX     :      410            430            460           112           107     
WA     :       42             31             38            90           123     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:       60             45             55            92           122     
       :                                                                        
US     :    1,746          1,444          1,995           114           138     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
     Cattle on Feed:  Number Placed on Feed by Weight Group, 1,000+ Capacity    
              Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States, 1996-97             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                             During July                             
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
   State  :  Less 600   :   600-699   :   700-799   :  800 Plus   :    Total    
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                             1,000 Head                              
          :                                                                     
CO        :  15     14     30     49     55     81     45     91     145    235 
KS        :  68     61    126     93    200    227    101    189     495    570 
NE        :  23     37     54     53    107    128    126    152     310    370 
TX        : 131    158    131    124    103    118     45     60     410    460 
          :                                                                     
Oth Sts   : 106     90     65     60    105     90    110    120     386    360 
          :                                                                     
US        : 343    360    406    379    570    644    427    612   1,746  1,995 
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                             During June                             
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          :  Less 600   :   600-699   :   700-799   :  800 Plus   :    Total    
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                             1,000 Head                              
          :                                                                     
CO        :   8     22     10     27     31     38     31     38      80    125 
KS        :  48     55     96     85    105    115     61     80     310    335 
NE        :  10     17     32     37     57     75     91     91     190    220 
TX        : 102    120    139    129     84    142     40     39     365    430 
          :                                                                     
Oth Sts   : 105     94     65     60     90     90    100     90     360    334 
          :                                                                     
US        : 273    308    342    338    367    460    323    338   1,305  1,444 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
           Cattle on Feed:  Number Marketed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,          
                   by Month, State, and United States 1996-97                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :             During Jul 1997              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Jul 1996   :   Jun 1997   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1996     :     Jun     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :    ------------ 1,000 Head -----------           ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       37             41             38           103            93     
CA     :       45             50             50           111           100     
CO     :      230            210            230           100           110     
ID     :       51             55             49            96            89     
IA     :       56             56             54            96            96     
KS     :      470            475            520           111           109     
NE     :      370            430            400           108            93     
NM     :       14             23             17           121            74     
OK     :       87             90             85            98            94     
SD     :       29             28             27            93            96     
TX     :      470            470            540           115           115     
WA     :       34             38             26            76            68     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:       85             75             70            82            93     
       :                                                                        
US     :    1,978          2,041          2,106           106           103     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
         Cattle on Feed:  Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,        
                  by Month, State, and United States 1996-97 1/                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :             During Jul 1997              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Jul 1996   :   Jun 1997   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1996     :     Jun     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :      ---------- 1,000 Head ----------            ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       0              3              1              0            33     
CA     :       5              5              5            100           100     
CO     :       5              5              5            100           100     
ID     :       3              5              4            133            80     
IA     :       1              1              1            100           100     
KS     :      15             10             10             67           100     
NE     :      10             10             10            100           100     
NM     :       4              1              1             25           100     
OK     :       2              2              1             50            50     
SD     :       1              2              0              0             0     
TX     :      10             10             10            100           100     
WA     :       1              1              4            400           400     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:       5              5              5            100           100     
       :                                                                        
US     :      62             60             57             92            95     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Includes death losses, movement from feedlots to pastures, and shipments to 
    other feedlots for further feeding.                                         
                                                                                
                                                                                
The next Cattle on Feed report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on September 19,   
1997.                                                                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in  
its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age,  
disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status.  Persons with    
disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program         
information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA's   
TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).                                  
                                                                                
To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington,      
D.C., 20250, or call 1-800-245-6340 (voice) or 202-720-1127 (TDD).  USDA is an  
equal employment opportunity employer.                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                         SUBSCRIBE TODAY!!                                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data       
products, and services:                                                         
                                                                                
                          INTERNET ACCESS                                       
                                                                                
All NASS reports are available free of charge on the worldwide Internet.  For   
access, connect to the Internet and go to the NASS Home Page at:                
http://www.usda.gov/nass/.  Select "Today's Reports" or Publications and then   
Reports by Calendar or Publications and then Search, by Title or Subject.       
                                                                                
                        E-MAIL SUBSCRIPTION                                     
                                                                                
All NASS reports are available by subscription free of charge direct to your    
e-mail address.  Send an e-mail message to:                                     
usda-reports@usda.mannlib.cornell.edu.  In the body of the message type the     
word:  list.                                                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
                          AUTOFAX ACCESS                                        
                                                                                
NASSFax service is available for some reports from your fax machine.  Please    
call 202-720-2000, using the handset attached to your fax.  Respond to the      
voice prompts.  Document 0411 is a list of available reports.                   
                                                                                
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -               
                PRINTED REPORTS OR DATA PRODUCTS                                
                                                                                
 CALL OUR TOLL-FREE ORDER DESK:   800-999-6779 (U.S. and Canada)                
Other areas, please call 703-834-0125                FAX:  703-834-0110         
(Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order acceptable for payment.)               
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -             
                                                                                
                           ASSISTANCE                                           
                                                                                
For assistance with general agricultural statistics or further information      
about NASS or its products or services, contact the Agricultural Statistics     
Hotline at 800-727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail:                  
nass@nass.usda.gov.