HDR1012000130010419961500CATTLE ON FEED                                         
Released April 19, 1996, 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                                     
                                                                                
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots
with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 9.81 million head on April 1, 1996. 
The inventory included 6.35 million steers and steer calves.  This group        
accounts for 65 percent of the total inventory.  Heifers and heifer calves      
accounted for 3.42 million head.                                                
                                                                                
Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.95 million.  Net placements were  
1.87 million.   During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than
600 pounds were 262,000, 600-699 pounds were 544,000, 700-799 pounds were       
772,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 370,000.                               
                                                                                
Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.76 million.                     
                                                                                
Other disappearance totaled 76,000 during March.                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
     Cattle on Feed in Historic 7 Monthly States Down 1 Percent                 
                                                                                
Cattle on feed April 1, 1996, in the historic 7 monthly States for feedlots with
capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 8.29 million, down 1 percent from the    
previous year but 4 percent above April 1, 1994.  The inventory included 5.38   
million steers and steer calves, down 3 percent from the previous year.  This   
group accounts for 65 percent of the total inventory.  Heifers and heifer calves
accounted for 2.88 million head, up 4 percent from 1995.                        
                                                                                
Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.67 million, 1 percent below 1995  
but 10 percent above 1994.                                                      
                                                                                
Marketings during March totaled 1.48 million, 2 percent below 1995 but 1 percent
above 1994.                                                                     
                                                                                
Other disappearance during March was 56,000 head, 16 percent below last year and
22 percent below 1994.                                                          
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Mt An 2-1 (4-96)                                                                
                                                                                
          Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and          
                 Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,                 
                           7 States, April 1, 1994-96                           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   :          Number          :  1996 as % of   
                Item               :--------------------------------------------
                                   :  1994  :  1995  :  1996  :  1994  :  1995  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   : ------ 1,000 Head -----        Percent     
                                   :                                            
On Feed Mar 1/                     : 7,981    8,227    8,152     102       99   
Placed on Feed During Mar          : 1,518    1,681    1,666     110       99   
Fed Cattle Marketed During Mar     : 1,467    1,513    1,476     101       98   
Other Disappearance During Mar 2/  :    72       67       56      78       84   
On Feed Apr 1 1/                   : 7,960    8,328    8,286     104       99   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
          Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and          
                 Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,                 
                           7 States, March 1, 1994-96                           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   :          Number          :  1996 as % of   
                Item               :--------------------------------------------
                                   :  1994  :  1995  :  1996  :  1994  :  1995  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   : ------ 1,000 Head -----        Percent     
                                   :                                            
On Feed Feb 1 1/                   : 8,139    8,119    8,304     102      102   
Placed on Feed During Feb          : 1,256    1,532    1,441     115       94   
Fed Cattle Marketed During Feb     : 1,357    1,372    1,541     114      112   
Other Disappearance During Feb 2/  :    57       52       52      91      100   
On Feed Mar 1 1/                   : 7,981    8,227    8,152     102       99   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, April 1, 1994-96                           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   :          Number          :  1996 as % of   
               Class               :--------------------------------------------
                                   :  1994  :  1995  :  1996  :  1994  :  1995  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   : ------ 1,000 Head -----        Percent     
                                   :                                            
Class on Feed Apr 1                :                                            
  Steers and Steer Calves          : 5,430    5,530    5,375      99       97   
  Heifers and Heifer Calves        : 2,500    2,762    2,877     115      104   
  Cows and Bulls                   :    30       36       34     113       94   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
           Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,           
                by Month, State, and United States 1995-96 1/ 2/                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :               Apr 1, 1996                
       :              :              :------------------------------------------
 State : Apr 1, 1995  : Mar 1, 1996  :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1995     :  Prev. Mo.  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :    ------------ 1,000 Head -----------           ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :      192            202            206           107           102     
CA     :      350            320            305            87            95     
CO     :      986            990          1,030           104           104     
ID     :      240            220            235            98           107     
IA     :      380            370            355            93            96     
KS     :    2,170          2,020          2,080            96           103     
NE     :    1,850          1,880          1,900           103           101     
NM     :                     116            102                          88     
OK     :      400            390            400           100           103     
SD     :      160            177            177           111           100     
TX     :    2,400          2,370          2,410           100           102     
WA     :      146            141            142            97           101     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:                     500            470                          94     
       :                                                                        
US     :                   9,696          9,812                         101     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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/  Missing data not available.                                                 
                                                                                
        Cattle on Feed:  Number Placed on Feed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,       
                  by Month, State, and United States 1995-96 1/                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :             During Mar 1996              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Mar 1995   :   Feb 1996   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1995     :  Prev. Mo.  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :     ----------- 1,000 Head -----------           ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :      26              27             37           142           137     
CA     :      40              40             40           100           100     
CO     :     248             215            240            97           112     
ID     :                      39             50                         128     
IA     :      48              54             44            92            81     
KS     :     420             360            430           102           119     
NE     :     350             370            350           100            95     
NM     :                      15             27                         180     
OK     :                      73             82                         112     
SD     :                      33             27                          82     
TX     :     549             375            525            96           140     
WA     :                      32             31                          97     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:                      80             65                          81     
       :                                                                        
US     :                   1,713          1,948                         114     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Missing data not available.                                                 
                                                                                
     Cattle on Feed:  Number Placed on Feed by Weight Group, 1,000+ Capacity    
               Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States, 1996               
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                               During Mar                               
 State :------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :   Less 600   :   600-699    :   700-799    :  800 Plus   :    Total    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                               1,000 Head                               
       :                                                                        
CO     :      10             40            110             80            240    
KS     :      39            124            180             87            430    
NE     :      24             87            147             92            350    
TX     :      89            200            205             31            525    
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:     100             93            130             80            403    
       :                                                                        
US     :     262            544            772            370          1,948    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
     Cattle on Feed:  Number Placed on Feed by Weight Group, 1,000+ Capacity    
               Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States, 1996               
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                               During Feb                               
 State :------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :   Less 600   :   600-699    :   700-799    :  800 Plus   :    Total    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                               1,000 Head                               
       :                                                                        
CO     :      10             38            105             62            215    
KS     :      32            134            143             51            360    
NE     :      32            106            145             87            370    
TX     :      60            180            116             19            375    
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:      95            108            120             70            393    
       :                                                                        
US     :     229            566            629            289          1,713    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
           Cattle on Feed:  Number Marketed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,          
                  by Month, State, and United States 1995-96 1/                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :             During Mar 1996              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Mar 1995   :   Feb 1996   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1995     :  Prev. Mo.  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :     ----------- 1,000 Head -----------           ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :      29              28             33           114           118     
CA     :      50              50             45            90            90     
CO     :     213             220            195            92            89     
ID     :                      53             33                          62     
IA     :      67              53             58            87           109     
KS     :     345             385            360           104            94     
NE     :     315             350            320           102            91     
NM     :                      18             37                         206     
OK     :                      81             70                          86     
SD     :                      34             26                          76     
TX     :     494             455            465            94           102     
WA     :                      38             29                          76     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:                      80             85                         106     
       :                                                                        
US     :                   1,845          1,756                          95     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Missing data not available.                                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
         Cattle on Feed:  Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,        
                by Month, State, and United States 1995-96 1/ 2/                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :             During Mar 1996              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Mar 1995   :   Feb 1996   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1995     :  Prev. Mo.  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :      ---------- 1,000 Head ----------            ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       1              1              0                                  
CA     :      20             10             10             50           100     
CO     :      10              5              5             50           100     
ID     :                      1              2                          200     
IA     :       1              1              1            100           100     
KS     :       5             15             10            200            67     
NE     :      15             10             10             67           100     
NM     :                      1              4                          400     
OK     :                      2              2                          100     
SD     :                      2              1                           50     
TX     :      15             10             20            133           200     
WA     :                      4              1                           25     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:                     10             10                          100     
       :                                                                        
US     :                     72             76                          106     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Includes death losses, movement from feedlots to pastures, and shipments to 
    other feedlots for further feeding.                                         
2/  Missing data not available.                                                 
                                                                                
       Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed by Class, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,      
                by Quarter, State, and United States, 1995-96 1/                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        : Steers & Steer Calves :Heifers & Heifer Calves:    Cows and Bulls     
        :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
  State :Apr 1, :Jan 1, :Apr 1, :Apr 1, :Jan 1, :Apr 1, :Apr 1, :Jan 1, :Apr 1, 
        : 1995  : 1996  : 1996  : 1995  : 1996  : 1996  : 1995  : 1996  : 1996  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :                              1,000 Head                               
        :                                                                       
AZ      :   174     204     191     18       18      15     0       0       0   
CA      :   315     310     270     34       38      33     1       2       2   
CO      :   622     580     620    349      460     400    15      10      10   
ID      :   171     191     159     67       69      74     2       0       2   
IA      :   225     229     224    155      145     130     0       1       1   
KS      : 1,460   1,420   1,350    705      700     720     5      40      10   
NE      : 1,130   1,120   1,140    706      760     750    14      20      10   
NM      :           *77      60             *58      42             1       0   
OK      :   245     242     250    154      170     150     1       0       0   
SD      :    77      98     102     78       88      73     5       4       2   
TX      : 1,604   1,725   1,580    795      884     829     1       1       1   
WA      :    97      99      91     49       62      51     0       0       0   
        :                                                                       
Oth Sts :           340     315             175     150             5       5   
        :                                                                       
US      :        *6,635   6,352          *3,627   3,417            84      43   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
1/  Missing data not available.                                                 
                                                                                
                                                                                
The next "Cattle on Feed" report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on May 17, 1996. 
                                                                                
                                                                                
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