HDR1012000130011219971500CATTLE ON FEED                                         
     National                                                                   
     Agricultural                                                               
     Statistics                                                                 
     Service                                                                    
                                                                                
USDA                                                                            
Washington, D.C.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Released December 19, 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 8 Percent                               
                                                                                
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for         
feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.44 million head on      
December 1, 1997.  The inventory was 8 percent above December 1, 1996.          
                                                                                
Placements in feedlots during November totaled 2.21 million, 6 percent below    
1996.  Net placements were 2.12 million.  During November, placements of cattle 
and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 656,000, 600-699 pounds were      
674,000, 700-799 pounds were 499,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 378,000.  
                                                                                
Marketings of fed cattle during November totaled 1.67 million, 1 percent below  
1996.                                                                           
                                                                                
Other disappearance totaled 85,000 during November, 9 percent below the         
previous year.                                                                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
         Cattle on Feed in Historic 7 States Up 8 Percent                       
                                                                                
Cattle on feed December 1, 1997, in the historic 7 States for feedlots with     
capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 9.72 million, up 8 percent from the      
previous year and 12 percent above December 1, 1995.                            
                                                                                
Placements in feedlots during November totaled 1.83 million, 7 percent below    
1996 but 1 percent above 1995.                                                  
                                                                                
Marketings during November totaled 1.43 million, 1 percent  above 1996 but 3    
percent below 1995.                                                             
                                                                                
Other disappearance during November was 69,000 head, 5 percent above 1996 and   
13 percent above 1995.                                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
          Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and          
                 Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,                 
                       United States, December 1, 1996-97                       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :           Number           : 1997 as % of 
                Item                :-------------------------------------------
                                    :     1996     :    1997     :     1996     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :    ---- 1,000 Head ----        Percent    
                                    :                                           
On Feed Nov 1 1/                    :    10,073        10,988          109      
Placed on Feed During Nov           :     2,348         2,207           94      
Fed Cattle Marketed During Nov      :     1,695         1,674           99      
Other Disappearance During Nov 2/   :        93            85           91      
On Feed Dec 1 1/                    :    10,633        11,436          108      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, November 1, 1996-97                       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :           Number           : 1997 as % of 
                Item                :-------------------------------------------
                                    :     1996     :    1997     :     1996     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :    ---- 1,000 Head ----        Percent    
                                    :                                           
On Feed Oct 1 1/                    :     8,841         9,963          113      
Placed on Feed During Oct           :     3,007        *2,916           97      
Fed Cattle Marketed During Oct      :     1,697        *1,800          106      
Other Disappearance During Oct 2/   :        78            91          117      
On Feed Nov 1 1/                    :    10,073        10,988          109      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   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, December 1, 1995-97 1/                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   :          Number          :  1997 as % of   
                Item               :--------------------------------------------
                                   :  1995  :  1996  :  1997  :  1995  :  1996  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   : ------ 1,000 Head -----        Percent     
                                   :                                            
On Feed Nov 1 2/                   : 8,420    8,534    9,390     112      110   
Placed on Feed During Nov          : 1,804    1,953    1,826     101       93   
Fed Cattle Marketed During Nov     : 1,478    1,418    1,429      97      101   
Other Disappearance During Nov 3/  :    61       66       69     113      105   
On Feed Dec 1 2/                   : 8,685    9,003    9,718     112      108   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, November 1, 1995-97 1/                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   :          Number          :  1997 as % of   
                Item               :--------------------------------------------
                                   :  1995  :  1996  :  1997  :  1995  :  1996  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   : ------ 1,000 Head ------       Percent     
                                   :                                            
On Feed Oct 1 2/                   : 7,722    7,486     8,558    111      114   
Placed on Feed During Oct          : 2,278    2,536    *2,454    108       97   
Fed Cattle Marketed During Oct     : 1,529    1,431    *1,545    101      108   
Other Disappearance During Oct 3/  :    51       57        77    151      135   
On Feed Nov 1 2/                   : 8,420    8,534     9,390    112      110   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
1/  The 7 States include AZ, CA, CO, IA, KS, NE, and TX.                        
2/  Cattle and calves on feed are animals for slaughter market being fed a      
    ration of grain or other concentrates and are expected to produce a carcass 
    that will grade select or better.                                           
3/  Includes death losses, movement from feedlots to pastures and shipments to  
    other feedlots for further feeding.                                         
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
           Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,           
                  by Month, State, and United States 1996-97 1/                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :               Dec 1, 1997                
       :              :              :------------------------------------------
 State : Dec 1, 1996  : Nov 1, 1997  :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1996     :     Nov     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :    ------------ 1,000 Head ------------          ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       238            215            243          102           113     
CA     :       370            390            410          111           105     
CO     :     1,110          1,140          1,160          105           102     
ID     :       285            270            300          105           111     
IA     :       355            325            355          100           109     
KS     :     2,240          2,350          2,410          108           103     
NE     :     2,050          2,130          2,200          107           103     
NM     :       133            116            120           90           103     
OK     :       395            410            430          109           105     
SD     :       162            144            168          104           117     
TX     :     2,640          2,840          2,940          111           104     
WA     :       175            208            210          120           101     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:       480            450            490          102           109     
       :                                                                        
US     :    10,633         10,988         11,436          108           104     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Nov 1997              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Nov 1996   :   Oct 1997   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1996     :     Oct     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :    ------------ 1,000 Head -----------           ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       43              51            55           128           108     
CA     :       70              60            75           107           125     
CO     :      195            *300           210           108            70     
ID     :       70              78            80           114           103     
IA     :       80              93            66            83            71     
KS     :      500             530           490            98            92     
NE     :      480             610           410            85            67     
NM     :       29              36            16            55            44     
OK     :       87             116            93           107            80     
SD     :       50              53            46            92            87     
TX     :      585             810           520            89            64     
WA     :       34              59            46           135            78     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:      125             120           100            80            83     
       :                                                                        
US     :    2,348          *2,916         2,207            94            76     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
     Cattle on Feed:  Number Placed on Feed by Weight Group, 1,000+ Capacity    
              Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States, 1996-97             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                           During November                           
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
   State  :  Less 600   :   600-699   :   700-799   :  800 Plus   :    Total    
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                             1,000 Head                              
          :                                                                     
CO        :  50     54     52     63     60     56     33     37     195    210 
KS        : 122    127    174    145    138    134     66     84     500    490 
NE        : 159    110    130    119     94     86     97     95     480    410 
TX        : 228    150    199    215    135    103     23     52     585    520 
          :                                                                     
Oth Sts   : 250    215    125    132    110    120    103    110     588    577 
          :                                                                     
US        : 809    656    680    674    537    499    322    378   2,348  2,207 
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                           During October                            
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          :  Less 600   :   600-699   :   700-799   :  800 Plus   :    Total    
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                             1,000 Head                              
          :                                                                     
CO        :  53     *63    50     *58    99     *89    73     *90    275    *300
KS        : 114     126   172     130   197     153   127     121    610     530
NE        : 178     155   135     121   153     154   174     180    640     610
TX        : 256     250   232     290   232     210    80      60    800     810
          :                                                                     
Oth Sts   : 245     226   135     120   145     145   157     175    682     666
          :                                                                     
US        : 846    *820   724    *719   826    *751   611    *626  3,007  *2,916
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
           Cattle on Feed:  Number Marketed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,          
                   by Month, State, and United States 1996-97                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :             During Nov 1997              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Nov 1996   :   Oct 1997   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1996     :     Oct     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :    ------------ 1,000 Head -----------           ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       24              28            24           100            86     
CA     :       50              50            45            90            90     
CO     :      160            *200           185           116            93     
ID     :       62              45            44            71            98     
IA     :       39              57            35            90            61     
KS     :      410             370           410           100           111     
NE     :      310             320           330           106           103     
NM     :       21              14            11            52            79     
OK     :       64              68            68           106           100     
SD     :       17              27            20           118            74     
TX     :      425             520           400            94            77     
WA     :       38              41            42           111           102     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:       75              60            60            80           100     
       :                                                                        
US     :    1,695          *1,800         1,674            99            93     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
         Cattle on Feed:  Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,        
                  by Month, State, and United States 1996-97 1/                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :             During Nov 1997              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Nov 1996   :   Oct 1997   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1996     :     Oct     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :      ---------- 1,000 Head ----------            ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       5              1              3             60           300     
CA     :       5              5             10            200           200     
CO     :       5             10              5            100            50     
ID     :       8              3              6             75           200     
IA     :       1              1              1            100           100     
KS     :      20             30             20            100            67     
NE     :      10             10             10            100           100     
NM     :       4              2              1             25            50     
OK     :       3              3              5            167           167     
SD     :       1              0              2            200             0     
TX     :      20             20             20            100           100     
WA     :       1              1              2            200           200     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:      10              5              0              0             0     
       :                                                                        
US     :      93             91             85             91            93     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 January 23,   
1998.                                                                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
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