HDR1012000130010314971500CATTLE ON FEED                                         
Cattle                                                                          
on Feed                                                                         
     National                                                                   
     Agricultural                                                               
     Statistics                                                                 
     Service                                                                    
                                                                                
USDA                                                                            
Washington, D.C.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Released March 14, 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.The "Cattle On Feed" U.S. Summary is available on     
AutoFax, (202) 720-2000, report 3100.  See page 7.                              
                 U.S. Cattle on Feed Up 6 Percent                               
                                                                                
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots
with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.28 million head on March 1, 1997.
The inventory was 6 percent above March 1, 1996.                                
                                                                                
Placements in feedlots during February totaled 1.77 million, 3 percent above    
1996.  Net placements were 1.71 million.  During February, placements of cattle 
and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 352,000, 600-699 pounds were      
500,000, 700-799 pounds were 606,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 314,000.  
                                                                                
Marketings of fed cattle during February totaled 1.78 million, 4 percent below  
1996.                                                                           
                                                                                
Other disappearance totaled 61,000 during February, 15 percent below the        
previous year.                                                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
         Cattle on Feed in Historic 7 States Up 8 Percent                       
                                                                                
Cattle on feed March 1, 1997, in the historic 7 States for feedlots with        
capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 8.77 million, up 8 percent from the      
previous year and 7 percent above March 1, 1995.                                
                                                                                
Placements in feedlots during February totaled 1.53 million, 6 percent above    
1996 but slightly below 1995.                                                   
                                                                                
Marketings during February totaled 1.53 million, 1 percent below 1996 but  11   
percent above 1995.                                                             
                                                                                
Other disappearance during February was 42,000 head, 19 percent below both 1996 
and 1995.                                                                       
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
          Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and          
                 Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,                 
                         United States, March 1, 1996-97                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :           Number           : 1997 as % of 
                Item                :-------------------------------------------
                                    :     1996     :    1997     :     1996     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :    ----- 1,000 Head ----       Percent    
                                    :                                           
On Feed Feb 1/                      :    9,900         *10,341         104      
Placed on Feed During Feb           :    1,713           1,772         103      
Fed Cattle Marketed During Feb      :    1,845           1,777          96      
Other Disappearance During Feb 2/   :       72              61          85      
On Feed Mar 1 1/                    :    9,696          10,275         106      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   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, Placements, Marketings, and          
                 Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,                 
                       United States, February 1, 1996-97                       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :           Number           : 1997 as % of 
                Item                :-------------------------------------------
                                    :     1996     :    1997     :     1996     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :    ----- 1,000 Head ----       Percent    
                                    :                                           
On Feed Jan 1 1/                    :    10,346         10,558         102      
Placed on Feed During Jan           :     1,549         *1,887         122      
Fed Cattle Marketed During Jan      :     1,930         *2,012         104      
Other Disappearance During Jan 2/   :        65             92         142      
On Feed Feb 1 1/                    :     9,900        *10,341         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, Placements, Marketings, and          
                 Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,                 
                           7 States, March 1, 1995-97                           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   :          Number          :  1997 as % of   
                Item               :--------------------------------------------
                                   :  1995  :  1996  :  1997  :  1995  :  1996  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   : ------ 1,000 Head ------       Percent     
                                   :                                            
On Feed Feb 1/                     : 8,119    8,304    *8,813    109      106   
Placed on Feed During Feb          : 1,532    1,441     1,527    100      106   
Fed Cattle Marketed During Feb     : 1,372    1,541     1,529    111       99   
Other Disappearance During Feb 2/  :    52       52        42     81       81   
On Feed Mar 1 1/                   : 8,227    8,152     8,769    107      108   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   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, Placements, Marketings, and          
                 Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,                 
                          7 States, February 1, 1995-97                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   :          Number          :  1997 as % of   
                Item               :--------------------------------------------
                                   :  1995  :  1996  :  1997  :  1995  :  1996  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   : ------ 1,000 Head ------       Percent     
                                   :                                            
On Feed Jan 1 1/                   : 8,031    8,667     8,943    111      103   
Placed on Feed During Jan          : 1,631    1,312    *1,663    102      127   
Fed Cattle Marketed During Jan     : 1,484    1,626    *1,728    116      106   
Other Disappearance During Jan 2/  :    59       49        65    110      133   
On Feed Feb 1 1/                   : 8,119    8,304    *8,813    109      106   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   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, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,           
                  by Month, State, and United States 1996-97 1/                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :               Mar 1, 1997                
       :              :              :------------------------------------------
 State : Mar 1, 1996  : Feb 1, 1997  :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1996     :     Feb     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :    ------------ 1,000 Head ------------          ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :      202             223            224          111           100     
CA     :      320             370            370          116           100     
CO     :      990           1,050          1,060          107           101     
ID     :      220             235            235          107           100     
IA     :      370             360            355           96            99     
KS     :    2,020           2,190          2,210          109           101     
NE     :    1,880           2,070          2,050          109            99     
NM     :      116             129            119          103            92     
OK     :      390             390            385           99            99     
SD     :      177             157            152           86            97     
TX     :    2,370          *2,550          2,500          105            98     
WA     :      141             137            135           96            99     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:      500             480            480           96           100     
       :                                                                        
US     :    9,696         *10,341         10,275          106            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 1996-97                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :             During Feb 1997              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Feb 1996   :   Jan 1997   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1996     :     Jan     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :    ------------ 1,000 Head -----------           ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       27              28            31           115           111     
CA     :       40              50            50           125           100     
CO     :      215            *260           235           109            90     
ID     :       39              35            40           103           114     
IA     :       54              45            41            76            91     
KS     :      360            *470           420           117            89     
NE     :      370             425           340            92            80     
NM     :       15              12            13            87           108     
OK     :       73              72            69            95            96     
SD     :       33              22            26            79           118     
TX     :      375             385           410           109           106     
WA     :       32              28            27            84            96     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:       80              55            70            88           127     
       :                                                                        
US     :    1,713          *1,887         1,772           103            94     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
     Cattle on Feed:  Number Placed on Feed by Weight Group, 1,000+ Capacity    
              Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States, 1996-97             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                           During February                           
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
   State  :  Less 600   :   600-699   :   700-799   :  800 Plus   :    Total    
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                             1,000 Head                              
          :                                                                     
CO        :  10     21     38     47    105    107     62     60     215    235 
KS        :  32     63    134    149    143    155     51     53     360    420 
NE        :  32     36    106     97    145    121     87     86     370    340 
TX        :  60    127    180    127    116    123     19     33     375    410 
          :                                                                     
Oth Sts   :  95    105    108     80    120    100     70     82     393    367 
          :                                                                     
US        : 229    352    566    500    629    606    289    314   1,713  1,772 
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                           During January                            
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          :  Less 600   :   600-699   :   700-799   :  800 Plus   :    Total    
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                             1,000 Head                              
          :                                                                     
CO        :  15     *33    50     *65    75     *98    40     *64    180    *260
KS        :  47     *78   137    *205   110    *136    46     *51    340    *470
NE        :  32      67   120     144   127     114    81     100    360     425
TX        :  79     119   143     158    82      89    13      19    317     385
          :                                                                     
Oth Sts   :  87     112   100      85   105      85    60      65    352     347
          :                                                                     
US        : 260    *409   550    *657   499    *522   240    *299  1,549  *1,887
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
           Cattle on Feed:  Number Marketed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,          
                   by Month, State, and United States 1996-97                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :             During Feb 1997              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Feb 1996   :   Jan 1997   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1996     :     Jan     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :    ------------ 1,000 Head -----------           ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       28              34            29           104            85     
CA     :       50              45            45            90           100     
CO     :      220            *310           220           100            71     
ID     :       53              56            39            74            70     
IA     :       53              39            45            85           115     
KS     :      385            *460           390           101            85     
NE     :      350             400           350           100            88     
NM     :       18              19            22           122           116     
OK     :       81              74            71            88            96     
SD     :       34              26            28            82           108     
TX     :      455            *440           450            99           102     
WA     :       38              44            28            74            64     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:       80              65            60            75            92     
       :                                                                        
US     :    1,845          *2,012         1,777            96            88     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
         Cattle on Feed:  Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,        
                   by Month, State, and United States 1996-97                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :             During Feb 1997              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Feb 1996   :   Jan 1997   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1996     :     Jan     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :      ---------- 1,000 Head ----------            ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       1              4              1            100            25     
CA     :      10             10              5             50            50     
CO     :       5             10              5            100            50     
ID     :       1              4              1            100            25     
IA     :       1              1              1            100           100     
KS     :      15             10             10             67           100     
NE     :      10             15             10            100            67     
NM     :       1              1              1            100           100     
OK     :       2              3              3            150           100     
SD     :       2              7              3            150            43     
TX     :      10             15             10            100            67     
WA     :       4              2              1             25            50     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:      10             10             10            100           100     
       :                                                                        
US     :      72             92             61             85            66     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 April 18,     
1997.                                                                           
                                                                                
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employment opportunity employer.                                                
                                                                                
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