HDR1012000130011017971500CATTLE ON FEED                                         
     National                                                                   
     Agricultural                                                               
     Statistics                                                                 
     Service                                                                    
                                                                                
USDA                                                                            
Washington, D.C.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Released October 17, 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 13 Percent                              
                                                                                
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots
with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 9.96 million head on October 1,     
1997.  The inventory was 13 percent above October 1, 1996.  The inventory       
included 6.04 million steers and steer calves, up 9 percent from the previous   
year.  This group accounts for 61 percent of the total inventory.  Heifers and  
heifer calves accounted for 3.89 million head, up 20 percent from 1996.         
                                                                                
Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.71 million, 2 percent above   
1996.  Net placements were 2.66 million.  During September, placements of cattle
and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 480,000, 600-699 pounds were      
498,000, 700-799 pounds were 817,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 916,000.  
                                                                                
Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.82 million, 15 percent above
1996.                                                                           
                                                                                
Other disappearance totaled 53,000 during September, 24 percent below the       
previous year.                                                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
         Cattle on Feed in Historic 7 States Up 14 Percent                      
                                                                                
Cattle on feed October 1, 1997, in the historic 7 States for feedlots with      
capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 8.56 million, up 14 percent from the     
previous year and 11 percent above October 1, 1995.  The inventory included 5.15
million steers and steer calves, up 11 percent from the previous year.  This    
group accounts for 60 percent of the total inventory.  Heifers and heifer calves
accounted for 3.38 million head, up 21 percent from 1996.                       
                                                                                
Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.28 million, slightly above    
1996 and 5 percent above 1995.                                                  
                                                                                
Marketings during September totaled 1.53 million, 14 percent  above 1996 but 4  
percent below  1995.                                                            
                                                                                
Other disappearance during September was 42,000 head, 18 percent below 1996 and 
9 percent below 1995.                                                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
          Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and          
                 Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,                 
                        United States, October 1, 1996-97                       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :           Number           : 1997 as % of 
                Item                :-------------------------------------------
                                    :     1996     :    1997     :     1996     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :    ---- 1,000 Head ----        Percent    
                                    :                                           
On Feed Sep 1 1/                    :    7,831          9,121          116      
Placed on Feed During Sep           :    2,653          2,711          102      
Fed Cattle Marketed During Sep      :    1,573          1,816          115      
Other Disappearance During Sep 2/   :       70             53           76      
On Feed Oct 1 1/                    :    8,841          9,963          113      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, September 1, 1996-97                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :           Number           : 1997 as % of 
                Item                :-------------------------------------------
                                    :     1996     :    1997     :     1996     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :    ---- 1,000 Head ----        Percent    
                                    :                                           
On Feed Aug 1 1/                    :    7,546          8,770          116      
Placed on Feed During Aug           :    2,265          2,429          107      
Fed Cattle Marketed During Aug      :    1,930          2,033          105      
Other Disappearance During Aug 2/   :       50             45           90      
On Feed Sep 1 1/                    :    7,831          9,121          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 by Class, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,      
                        United States, October 1, 1996-97                       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :           Number           : 1997 as % of 
                Item                :-------------------------------------------
                                    :     1996     :    1997     :     1996     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :    ---- 1,000 Head ----        Percent    
                                    :                                           
Class on Feed Oct 1                 :                                           
  Steers and Steer Calves           :    5,549          6,036          109      
  Heifers and Heifer Calves         :    3,252          3,894          120      
  Cows and Bulls                    :       40             33           83      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
          Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and          
                 Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,                 
                         7 States, October 1, 1995-97 1/                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   :          Number          :  1997 as % of   
                Item               :--------------------------------------------
                                   :  1995  :  1996  :  1997  :  1995  :  1996  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   : ------ 1,000 Head -----        Percent     
                                   :                                            
On Feed Sep 1 2/                   : 7,189    6,612    7,850     109      119   
Placed on Feed During Sep          : 2,173    2,267    2,278     105      100   
Fed Cattle Marketed During Sep     : 1,594    1,342    1,528      96      114   
Other Disappearance During Sep 3/  :    46       51       42      91       82   
On Feed Oct 1 2/                   : 7,722    7,486    8,558     111      114   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, September 1, 1995-97 1/                       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   :          Number          :  1997 as % of   
                Item               :--------------------------------------------
                                   :  1995  :  1996  :  1997  :  1995  :  1996  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   : ------ 1,000 Head -----        Percent     
                                   :                                            
On Feed Aug 1 2/                   : 7,391    6,337    7,536     102      119   
Placed on Feed During Aug          : 1,653    1,965    2,111     128      107   
Fed Cattle Marketed During Aug     : 1,815    1,653    1,755      97      106   
Other Disappearance During Aug 3/  :    40       37       42     105      114   
On Feed Sep 1 2/                   : 7,189    6,612    7,850     109      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 by Class, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,      
                         7 States, October 1, 1995-97 1/                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   :          Number          :  1997 as % of   
                Item               :--------------------------------------------
                                   :  1995  :  1996  :  1997  :  1995  :  1996  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   : ------ 1,000 Head -----        Percent     
                                   :                                            
Class on Feed Oct 1                :                                            
  Steers and Steer Calves          : 5,078    4,656    5,147     101      111   
  Heifers and Heifer Calves        : 2,608    2,798    3,383     130      121   
  Cows and Bulls                   :    36       32       28      78       88   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  The 7 States include AZ, CA, CO, IA, KS, NE, and TX.                        
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
           Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,           
                  by Month, State, and United States 1996-97 1/                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :               Oct 1, 1997                
       :              :              :------------------------------------------
 State : Oct 1, 1996  : Sep 1, 1997  :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1996     :     Sep     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :    ------------ 1,000 Head -----------           ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :      201            185            193            96           104     
CA     :      355            380            385           108           101     
CO     :      960            920          1,050           109           114     
ID     :      275            210            240            87           114     
IA     :      260            265            290           112           109     
KS     :    1,930          2,070          2,220           115           107     
NE     :    1,570          1,640          1,850           118           113     
NM     :       95             88             96           101           109     
OK     :      330            340            365           111           107     
SD     :      110            102            118           107           116     
TX     :    2,210          2,390          2,570           116           108     
WA     :      185            166            191           103           115     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:      360            365            395           110           108     
       :                                                                        
US     :    8,841          9,121          9,963           113           109     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Sep 1997              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Sep 1996   :   Aug 1997   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1996     :     Aug     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :    ------------ 1,000 Head -----------           ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       48             45             35            73            78     
CA     :       55             50             55           100           110     
CO     :      405            235            320            79           136     
ID     :       73             54             80           110           148     
IA     :       74             51             68            92           133     
KS     :      520            600            560           108            93     
NE     :      565            500            540            96           108     
NM     :       16             20             25           156           125     
OK     :       85             92            105           124           114     
SD     :       40             17             44           110           259     
TX     :      600            630            700           117           111     
WA     :       47             50             59           126           118     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:      125             85            120            96           141     
       :                                                                        
US     :    2,653          2,429          2,711           102           112     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
     Cattle on Feed:  Number Placed on Feed by Weight Group, 1,000+ Capacity    
              Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States, 1996-97             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                          During September                           
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
   State  :  Less 600   :   600-699   :   700-799   :  800 Plus   :    Total    
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                             1,000 Head                              
          :                                                                     
CO        :  18     15     34     27    160    124    193    154     405    320 
KS        :  69     90    135    109    172    185    144    176     520    560 
NE        :  37     40     95     68    178    162    255    270     565    540 
TX        : 156    205    156    189    204    205     84    101     600    700 
          :                                                                     
Oth Sts   : 133    130    100    105    160    141    170    215     563    591 
          :                                                                     
US        : 413    480    520    498    874    817    846    916   2,653  2,711 
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                            During August                            
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          :  Less 600   :   600-699   :   700-799   :  800 Plus   :    Total    
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                             1,000 Head                              
          :                                                                     
CO        :  11     24     25     27    121     75    118    109     275    235 
KS        :  50     94    138    128    250    189    132    189     570    600 
NE        :  22     34     57     74    184    152    197    240     460    500 
TX        : 173    189    148    170    138    195     51     76     510    630 
          :                                                                     
Oth Sts   : 115    120     70     75    115    114    150    155     450    464 
          :                                                                     
US        : 371    461    438    474    808    725    648    769   2,265  2,429 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
           Cattle on Feed:  Number Marketed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,          
                   by Month, State, and United States 1996-97                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :             During Sep 1997              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Sep 1996   :   Aug 1997   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1996     :     Aug     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :    ------------ 1,000 Head -----------           ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       29             35             26            90            74     
CA     :       45             45             45           100           100     
CO     :      150            210            185           123            88     
ID     :       45             48             47           104            98     
IA     :       43             55             42            98            76     
KS     :      370            520            400           108            77     
NE     :      290            350            320           110            91     
NM     :       10             18             16           160            89     
OK     :       52             81             78           150            96     
SD     :       30             24             28            93           117     
TX     :      415            540            510           123            94     
WA     :       29             32             34           117           106     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:       65             75             85           131           113     
       :                                                                        
US     :    1,573          2,033          1,816           115            89     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
         Cattle on Feed:  Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,        
                  by Month, State, and United States 1996-97 1/                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :             During Sep 1997              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Sep 1996   :   Aug 1997   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1996     :     Aug     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :      ---------- 1,000 Head ----------            ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       0              1              1              0           100     
CA     :       5              5              5            100           100     
CO     :       5              5              5            100           100     
ID     :       3              1              3            100           300     
IA     :       1              1              1            100           100     
KS     :      10             10             10            100           100     
NE     :      15             10             10             67           100     
NM     :       1              1              1            100           100     
OK     :       3              1              2             67           200     
SD     :       1              0              0              0             0     
TX     :      15             10             10             67           100     
WA     :       1              0              0              0             0     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:      10              0              5             50             0     
       :                                                                        
US     :      70             45             53             76           118     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 :Oct 1, :Jul 1, :Oct 1, :Oct 1, :Jul 1, :Oct 1, :Oct 1, :Jul 1, :Oct 1, 
        : 1996  : 1997  : 1997  : 1996  : 1997  : 1997  : 1996  : 1997  : 1997  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :                              1,000 Head                               
        :                                                                       
AZ      :   185     170     172      16      19      21     0       0       0   
CA      :   320     350     345      34      38      38     1       2       2   
CO      :   570     495     585     380     415     460    10      10       5   
ID      :   195     159     169      78      55      68     2       1       3   
IA      :   161     160     175      99     120     115     0       0       0   
KS      : 1,210   1,190   1,340     710     760     870    10      10      10   
NE      :   880     880   1,090     680     645     750    10      15      10   
NM      :    51      40      38      44      50      58     0       0       0   
OK      :   200     184     205     130     150     160     0       1       0   
SD      :    66      68      71      43      51      45     1       5       2   
TX      : 1,330   1,370   1,440     879   1,029   1,129     1       1       1   
WA      :   111      82     116      74      58      75     0       0       0   
        :                                                                       
Oth Sts :   270     260     290      85     110     105     5       5       0   
        :                                                                       
US      : 5,549   5,408   6,036   3,252   3,500   3,894    40      50      33   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
The next "Cattle on Feed" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on November 14,  
1997.                                                                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
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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.                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
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