HDR1012000130010124971500CATTLE ON FEED                                         
Released January 24, 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 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET.  For assistance with general agricultural      
statistics, information about NASS, its products or services, contact the NASS  
Information Hotline at 1-800-727-9540 or E-mail: nass@nass.usda.gov.            
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                 U.S. Cattle on Feed Up 2 Percent                               
                                                                                
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots
with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.56 million head on January 1,    
1997.  The inventory was 2 percent above January 1, 1996.  The inventory        
included 6.40 million steers and steer calves, down 4 percent from the previous 
year.  This group accounts for 61 percent of the total inventory.  Heifers and  
heifer calves accounted for 4.07 million head, up 12 percent from 1996.         
                                                                                
Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.70 million, 2 percent below    
1995.  Net placements were 1.61 million.  During December, placements of cattle 
and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 480,000, 600-699 pounds were      
536,000, 700-799 pounds were 418,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 261,000.  
                                                                                
Marketings of fed cattle during December totaled 1.68 million, 1 percent above  
1995.                                                                           
                                                                                
Other disappearance totaled 86,000 during December, 26 percent above the        
previous year.                                                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
         Cattle on Feed in Historic 7 States Up 3 Percent                       
                                                                                
Cattle on feed January 1, 1997, in the historic 7 States for feedlots with      
capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 8.94 million, up 3 percent from the      
previous year and 11 percent above January 1, 1995.  The inventory included 5.41
million steers and steer calves, down 3 percent from the previous year.  This   
group accounts for 60 percent of the total inventory.  Heifers and heifer calves
accounted for 3.46 million head, up 15 percent from 1996.                       
                                                                                
Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.42 million, 2 percent below    
1995 but 6 percent above 1994.                                                  
                                                                                
Marketings during December totaled 1.42 million, slightly above 1995 but 1      
percent below 1994.                                                             
                                                                                
Other disappearance during December was 68,000 head, 31 percent above 1995 but  
15 percent below 1994.                                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
               U.S. All Cattle on Feed Up 2 Percent                             
                                                                                
Cattle on feed January 1, 1997, from all feedlots in the United States, totaled 
13.2 million, up 2 percent from the revised 13.0 million on January 1, 1996 and 
6 percent above January 1, 1995.                                                
          Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and          
                 Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,                 
                        United States, January 1, 1996-97                       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :           Number           : 1997 as % of 
                Item                :-------------------------------------------
                                    :     1996     :    1997     :     1996     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :    ----- 1,000 Head ----       Percent    
                                    :                                           
On Feed Dec 1/                      :    10,347        *10,633         103      
Placed on Feed During Dec           :     1,728          1,695          98      
Fed Cattle Marketed During Dec      :     1,661          1,684         101      
Other Disappearance During Dec 2/   :        68             86         126      
On Feed Jan 1 1/                    :    10,346         10,558         102      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
1/  Includes cattle placed on feed after beginning of quarter and marketed      
    before end of quarter.                                                      
2/  Includes death losses, movement from feedlots to pastures and shipments to  
    other feedlots for further feeding.                                         
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
       Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed by Class, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,      
                        United States, January 1, 1996-97                       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :           Number           : 1997 as % of 
                Class               :-------------------------------------------
                                    :     1996     :    1997     :     1996     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :    ---- 1,000 Head ----        Percent    
                                    :                                           
Class on Feed Jan 1                 :                                           
  Steers and Steer Calves           :    6,635          6,398           96      
  Heifers and Heifer Calves         :    3,627          4,069          112      
  Cows and Bulls                    :       84             91          108      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and          
                 Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,                 
                          7 States, January 1, 1995-97                          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   :          Number          :  1997 as % of   
                Item               :--------------------------------------------
                                   :  1995  :  1996  :  1997  :  1995  :  1996  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   : ------ 1,000 Head ------       Percent     
                                   :                                            
On Feed Dec 1/                     : 8,198    8,685    *9,003    110      104   
Placed on Feed During Dec          : 1,345    1,446     1,423    106       98   
Fed Cattle Marketed During Dec     : 1,432    1,412     1,415     99      100   
Other Disappearance During Dec 2/  :    80       52        68     85      131   
On Feed Jan 1 1/                   : 8,031    8,667     8,943    111      103   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
1/  Includes cattle placed on feed after beginning of quarter and marketed      
    before end of quarter.                                                      
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, December 1, 1994-96                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   :          Number          :  1996 as % of   
                Item               :--------------------------------------------
                                   :  1994  :  1995  :  1996  :  1994  :  1995  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   : ------ 1,000 Head ------       Percent     
                                   :                                            
On Feed Nov 1 1/                   : 7,988    8,420     8,534    107      101   
Placed on Feed During Nov          : 1,642    1,804    *1,953    119      108   
Fed Cattle Marketed During Nov     : 1,370    1,478    *1,418    104       96   
Other Disappearance During Nov 2/  :    62       61        66    106      108   
On Feed Dec 1 1/                   : 8,198    8,685    *9,003    110      104   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
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 by Class, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,      
                          7 States, January 1, 1995-97                          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   :          Number          :  1997 as % of   
               Class               :--------------------------------------------
                                   :  1995  :  1996  :  1997  :  1995  :  1996  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   : ------ 1,000 Head -----        Percent     
                                   :                                            
Class on Feed Jan 1                :                                            
  Steers and Steer Calves          : 5,216    5,588    5,410     104       97   
  Heifers and Heifer Calves        : 2,785    3,005    3,455     124      115   
  Cows and Bulls                   :    30       74       78     260      105   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,           
                  by Month, State, and United States 1996-97 1/                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :               Jan 1, 1997                
       :              :              :------------------------------------------
 State : Jan 1, 1996  : Dec 1, 1996  :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1996     :     Dec     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :    ------------ 1,000 Head ------------          ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       222            238            233          105            98     
CA     :       350           *370            375          107           101     
CO     :     1,050         *1,110          1,110          106           100     
ID     :       260           *285            260          100            91     
IA     :       375            355            355           95           100     
KS     :     2,160          2,240          2,190          101            98     
NE     :     1,900          2,050          2,060          108           100     
NM     :       136            133            137          101           103     
OK     :       412            395            395           96           100     
SD     :       190            162            168           88           104     
TX     :     2,610          2,640          2,620          100            99     
WA     :       161            175            155           96            89     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:       520            480            500           96           104     
       :                                                                        
US     :    10,346        *10,633         10,558          102            99     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
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 1995-96                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :             During Dec 1996              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Dec 1995   :   Nov 1996   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1995     :     Nov     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :    ------------ 1,000 Head -----------           ---- Percent ---      
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       23              43            28           122           65      
CA     :       45             *70            60           133           86      
CO     :      179             195           155            87           79      
ID     :       31             *70            41           132           59      
IA     :       45              80            35            78           44      
KS     :      410             500           410           100           82      
NE     :      370             480           375           101           78      
NM     :       14              29            22           157           76      
OK     :       68              87            73           107           84      
SD     :       40              50            27            68           54      
TX     :      374             585           360            96           62      
WA     :       24              34            29           121           85      
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:      105             125            80            76           64      
       :                                                                        
US     :    1,728          *2,348         1,695            98           72      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
     Cattle on Feed:  Number Placed on Feed by Weight Group, 1,000+ Capacity    
              Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States, 1995-96 1/          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                               During Dec                               
       :------------------------------------------------------------------------
 State :   Less 600   :   600-699    :   700-799    :  800 Plus   :    Total    
       :------------------------------------------------------------------------
       : 1995  : 1996 : 1995  : 1996 : 1995  : 1996 : 1995 : 1996 : 1995 : 1996 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                               1,000 Head                               
       :                                                                        
CO     :   32     28      60     51      55     45     32     31     179    155 
KS     :  105     93     144    156     118    109     43     52     410    410 
NE     :   55     81     122    100     106    114     87     80     370    375 
TX     :  120    123     183    144      56     75     15     18     374    360 
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:  145    155     100     85      75     75     75     80     395    395 
       :                                                                        
US     :  457    480     609    536     410    418    252    261   1,728  1,695 
       :------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                               During Nov                               
       :------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :   Less 600   :   600-699    :   700-799    :  800 Plus   :    Total    
       :------------------------------------------------------------------------
       : 1995  : 1996 : 1995  : 1996 : 1995  : 1996 : 1995 : 1996 : 1995 : 1996 
       :------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                               1,000 Head                               
       :                                                                        
CO     :           50             52            60             33            195
KS     :          122            174           138             66            500
NE     :          159            130            94             97            480
TX     :          228            199           135             23            585
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:         *250           *125           110           *103           *588
       :                                                                        
US     :         *809           *680           537           *322         *2,348
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
1/  Missing data not available.                                                 
           Cattle on Feed:  Number Marketed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,          
                   by Month, State, and United States 1995-96                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :             During Dec 1996              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Dec 1995   :   Nov 1996   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1995     :     Nov     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :    ------------ 1,000 Head -----------           ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       24              24            31           129           129     
CA     :       45              50            45           100            90     
CO     :      155            *160           150            97            94     
ID     :       42              62            59           140            95     
IA     :       49              39            34            69            87     
KS     :      390             410           440           113           107     
NE     :      380             310           355            93           115     
NM     :       11              21            17           155            81     
OK     :       71              64            70            99           109     
SD     :       24              17            20            83           118     
TX     :      369             425           360            98            85     
WA     :       41              38            48           117           126     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:       60              75            55            92            73     
       :                                                                        
US     :    1,661          *1,695         1,684           101            99     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
         Cattle on Feed:  Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,        
                  by Month, State, and United States 1995-96 1/                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :             During Dec 1996              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Dec 1995   :   Nov 1996   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1996     :     Nov     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :      ---------- 1,000 Head ----------            ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       1              5              2            200            40     
CA     :      10              5             10            100           200     
CO     :       5              5              5            100           100     
ID     :       4              8              7            175            88     
IA     :       1              1              1            100           100     
KS     :      10             20             20            200           100     
NE     :      10             10             10            100           100     
NM     :       3              4              1             33            25     
OK     :       2              3              3            150           100     
SD     :       1              1              1            100           100     
TX     :      15             20             20            133           100     
WA     :       1              1              1            100           100     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:       5             10              5            100            50     
       :                                                                        
US     :      68             93             86            126            92     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Includes death losses, movement from feedlots to pastures, 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, 1996-97                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        : Steers & Steer Calves :Heifers & Heifer Calves:    Cows and Bulls     
        :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
  State :Jan 1, :Oct 1, :Jan 1, :Jan 1, :Oct 1, :Jan 1, :Jan 1, :Oct 1, :Jan 1, 
        : 1996  : 1996  : 1997  : 1996  : 1996  : 1997  : 1996  : 1996  : 1997  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :                              1,000 Head                               
        :                                                                       
AZ      :   204     185     210      18      16      23     0       0       0   
CA      :   310     320     335      38      34      38     2       1       2   
CO      :   580     570     605     460     380     490    10      10      15   
ID      :   191     195     180      69      78      80     0       2       0   
IA      :   229     161     220     145      99     135     1       0       0   
KS      : 1,420   1,210   1,270     700     710     880    40      10      40   
NE      : 1,120     880   1,200     760     680     840    20      10      20   
NM      :    77      51      77      58      44      59     1       0       1   
OK      :   242     200     225     170     130     170     0       0       0   
SD      :    98      66      84      88      43      82     4       1       2   
TX      : 1,725   1,330   1,570     884     879   1,049     1       1       1   
WA      :    99     111      92      62      74      63     0       0       0   
        :                                                                       
Oth Sts :   340     270     330     175      85     160     5       5      10   
        :                                                                       
US      : 6,635   5,549   6,398   3,627   3,252   4,069    84      40      91   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Cattle on Feed:  Total Number on Feed by State                 
                    and United States, January 1, 1996-97 1/                    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   State   :         1996         :         1997         :     as % of 1996     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           :       --------- 1,000 Head ---------                Percent        
           :                                                                    
AL         :             5                      5                  100          
AZ         :           222                    233                  105          
AR         :            18                     19                  106          
CA         :           350                    375                  107          
CO         :         1,070                  1,130                  106          
GA         :            10                      5                   50          
ID         :           270                    270                  100          
IL         :           290                    265                   91          
IN         :           200                    220                  110          
IA         :          *900                  1,000                  111          
KS         :         2,210                  2,220                  100          
KY         :            25                     20                   80          
LA         :             3                      3                  100          
MD         :            17                     11                   65          
MI         :           200                    200                  100          
MN         :           335                    300                   90          
MS         :             4                      4                  100          
MO         :           100                     95                   95          
MT         :           105                     85                   81          
NE         :         2,030                  2,220                  109          
NV         :            22                     25                  114          
NJ         :             4                      6                  150          
NM         :          *136                    137                  101          
NY         :            30                     30                  100          
NC         :            10                     10                  100          
ND         :            75                    100                  133          
OH         :           235                    200                   85          
OK         :           415                    400                   96          
OR         :            80                     80                  100          
PA         :            75                     75                  100          
SC         :             8                      6                   75          
SD         :           330                    320                   97          
TN         :            20                     20                  100          
TX         :         2,630                  2,630                  100          
UT         :            60                     50                   83          
VA         :            35                     30                   86          
WA         :           166                    163                   98          
WV         :             9                      8                   89          
WI         :           150                    150                  100          
WY         :            95                     80                   84          
           :                                                                    
Oth Sts 2/ :            19                     16                   82          
           :                                                                    
US         :       *12,968                 13,216                  102          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
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/  Other States include AK, CT, DE, FL, HI, ME, MA, NH, RI, and VT.            
The next "Cattle On Feed" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on February 14,  
1997.                                                                           
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