HDR1012000130010418971500CATTLE ON FEED                                         
Cattle                                                                          
on Feed                                                                         
     National                                                                   
     Agricultural                                                               
     Statistics                                                                 
     Service                                                                    
                                                                                
USDA                                                                            
Washington, D.C.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Released April 18, 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.                                                
                                                                                
                 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 10.39 million head on      
April 1, 1997.  The inventory was 6 percent above April 1, 1996.  The inventory 
included 6.39 million steers and steer calves, up 1 percent from the previous   
year.  This group accounts for 61 percent of the total inventory.  Heifers and  
heifer calves accounted for 3.94 million head, up 15 percent from 1996.         
                                                                                
Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.97 million, 1 percent above 1996. 
Net placements were 1.88 million.  During March, placements of cattle and       
calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 321,000, 600-699 pounds were 538,000, 
700-799 pounds were 721,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 386,000.           
                                                                                
Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.76 million, slightly above      
1996.  The year-to-year relationship between fed cattle marketed and commercial 
slaughter continues to be affected by the decrease in cattle imported from      
Canada that are going directly to slaughter.                                    
                                                                                
Other disappearance totaled 86,000 during March, 13 percent above the previous  
year.                                                                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
         Cattle on Feed in Historic 7 States Up 7 Percent                       
                                                                                
Cattle on feed April 1, 1997, in the historic 7 States for feedlots with        
capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 8.9 million, up 7 percent from both the  
previous year and April 1, 1995.  The inventory included 5.42 million steers    
and steer calves, up 1 percent from the previous year.  This group accounts for 
61 percent of the total inventory.  Heifers and heifer calves accounted for     
3.43 million head, up 19 percent from 1996.                                     
                                                                                
Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.69 million, 2 percent above 1996  
and 1 percent above 1995.                                                       
                                                                                
Marketings during March totaled 1.50 million, 1 percent  above 1996 but 1       
percent below 1995.  The year-to-year relationship between the 7 States fed     
cattle marketed and commercial slaughter continues to be affected by the        
decrease in cattle imported from Canada that are going directly to slaughter.   
The 7 States are marketing more fed cattle then last year, while the other      
States are marketing fewer fed cattle.  This also has an effect on the          
year-to-year relationship between the 7 States fed cattle marketed and          
commercial slaughter.                                                           
                                                                                
Other disappearance during March was 62,000 head, 11 percent above 1996 but 7   
percent below 1995.                                                             
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
          Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and          
                 Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,                 
                         United States, April 1, 1996-97                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :           Number           : 1997 as % of 
                Item                :-------------------------------------------
                                    :     1996     :    1997     :     1996     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :    ---- 1,000 Head ----        Percent    
                                    :                                           
On Feed Mar 1/                      :    9,696         10,275          106      
Placed on Feed During Mar           :    1,948          1,966          101      
Fed Cattle Marketed During Mar      :    1,756          1,764          100      
Other Disappearance During Mar 2/   :       76             86          113      
On Feed Apr 1 1/                    :    9,812         10,391          106      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, March 1, 1996-97                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :           Number           : 1997 as % of 
                Item                :-------------------------------------------
                                    :     1996     :    1997     :     1996     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :    ---- 1,000 Head ----        Percent    
                                    :                                           
On Feed Feb 1 1/                    :    9,900         10,341          104      
Placed on Feed During Feb           :    1,713         *1,797          105      
Fed Cattle Marketed During Feb      :    1,845         *1,802           98      
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 by Class, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,      
                         United States, April 1, 1996-97                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :           Number           : 1997 as % of 
                Item                :-------------------------------------------
                                    :     1996     :    1997     :     1996     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    :    ---- 1,000 Head ----        Percent    
                                    :                                           
Class on Feed Apr 1                 :                                           
  Steers and Steer Calves           :    6,352          6,386          101      
  Heifers and Heifer Calves         :    3,417          3,939          115      
  Cows and Bulls                    :       43             66          153      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
          Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and          
                 Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,                 
                          7 States, April 1, 1995-97 1/                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   :          Number          :  1997 as % of   
                Item               :--------------------------------------------
                                   :  1995  :  1996  :  1997  :  1995  :  1996  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   : ------ 1,000 Head -----        Percent     
                                   :                                            
On Feed Mar 2/                     : 8,227    8,152    8,769     107      108   
Placed on Feed During Mar          : 1,681    1,666    1,694     101      102   
Fed Cattle Marketed During Mar     : 1,513    1,476    1,497      99      101   
Other Disappearance During Mar 3/  :    67       56       62      93      111   
On Feed Apr 1 2/                   : 8,328    8,286    8,904     107      107   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, March 1, 1995-97 1/                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   :          Number          :  1997 as % of   
                Item               :--------------------------------------------
                                   :  1995  :  1996  :  1997  :  1995  :  1996  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   : ------ 1,000 Head ------       Percent     
                                   :                                            
On Feed Feb 1 2/                   : 8,119    8,304     8,813    109      106   
Placed on Feed During Feb          : 1,532    1,441    *1,552    101      108   
Fed Cattle Marketed During Feb     : 1,372    1,541    *1,554    113      101   
Other Disappearance During Feb 3/  :    52       52        42     81       81   
On Feed Mar 1 2/                   : 8,227    8,152     8,769    107      108   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   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 by Class, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,      
                          7 States, April 1, 1995-97 1/                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   :          Number          :  1997 as % of   
                Item               :--------------------------------------------
                                   :  1995  :  1996  :  1997  :  1995  :  1996  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   : ------ 1,000 Head -----        Percent     
                                   :                                            
Class on Feed Apr 1                :                                            
  Steers and Steer Calves          : 5,530    5,375    5,417      98      101   
  Heifers and Heifer Calves        : 2,762    2,877    3,431     124      119   
  Cows and Bulls                   :    36       34       56     156      165   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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/                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :               Apr 1, 1997                
       :              :              :------------------------------------------
 State : Apr 1, 1996  : Mar 1, 1997  :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1996     :     Mar     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :    ------------ 1,000 Head ------------          ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :      206             224            224          109           100     
CA     :      305             370            380          125           103     
CO     :    1,030           1,060          1,090          106           103     
ID     :      235             235            235          100           100     
IA     :      355             355            340           96            96     
KS     :    2,080           2,210          2,270          109           103     
NE     :    1,900           2,050          2,030          107            99     
NM     :      102             119            118          116            99     
OK     :      400             385            395           99           103     
SD     :      177             152            152           86           100     
TX     :    2,410           2,500          2,570          107           103     
WA     :      142             135            127           89            94     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:      470             480            460           98            96     
       :                                                                        
US     :    9,812          10,275         10,391          106           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.                                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
        Cattle on Feed:  Number Placed on Feed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,       
                   by Month, State, and United States 1996-97                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :             During Mar 1997              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Mar 1996   :   Feb 1997   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1996     :     Feb     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :    ------------ 1,000 Head -----------           ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       37              31            34            92           110     
CA     :       40              50            65           163           130     
CO     :      240            *260           210            88            81     
ID     :       50              40            46            92           115     
IA     :       44              41            40            91            98     
KS     :      430             420           440           102           105     
NE     :      350             340           320            91            94     
NM     :       27              13            25            93           192     
OK     :       82              69            84           102           122     
SD     :       27              26            34           126           131     
TX     :      525             410           585           111           143     
WA     :       31              27            23            74            85     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:       65              70            60            92            86     
       :                                                                        
US     :    1,948          *1,797         1,966           101           109     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
     Cattle on Feed:  Number Placed on Feed by Weight Group, 1,000+ Capacity    
              Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States, 1996-97             
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                            During March                             
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
   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     24     40     32    110     95     80     59     240    210 
KS        :  39     48    124    134    180    182     87     76     430    440 
NE        :  24     32     87     60    147    114     92    114     350    320 
TX        :  89    106    200    222    205    215     31     42     525    585 
          :                                                                     
Oth Sts   : 100    111     93     90    130    115     80     95     403    411 
          :                                                                     
US        : 262    321    544    538    772    721    370    386   1,948  1,966 
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                           During February                           
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          :  Less 600   :   600-699   :   700-799   :  800 Plus   :    Total    
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 : 1996 : 1997 
          :---------------------------------------------------------------------
          :                             1,000 Head                              
          :                                                                     
CO        :  10     *23    38     *52   105    *118    62     *67    215    *260
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    *354   566    *505   629    *617   289    *321  1,713  *1,797
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
           Cattle on Feed:  Number Marketed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,          
                   by Month, State, and United States 1996-97                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :             During Mar 1997              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Mar 1996   :   Feb 1997   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1996     :     Feb     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :    ------------ 1,000 Head -----------           ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       33              29            33           100           114     
CA     :       45              45            50           111           111     
CO     :      195            *245           165            85            67     
ID     :       33              39            39           118           100     
IA     :       58              45            54            93           120     
KS     :      360             390           370           103            95     
NE     :      320             350           325           102            93     
NM     :       37              22            25            68           114     
OK     :       70              71            72           103           101     
SD     :       26              28            31           119           111     
TX     :      465             450           500           108           111     
WA     :       29              28            30           103           107     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:       85              60            70            82           117     
       :                                                                        
US     :    1,756          *1,802         1,764           100            98     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*   Revised.                                                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
         Cattle on Feed:  Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,        
                   by Month, State, and United States 1996-97                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :             During Mar 1997              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Mar 1996   :   Feb 1997   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1996     :     Feb     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :      ---------- 1,000 Head ----------            ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       0              1              1                          100     
CA     :      10              5              5             50           100     
CO     :       5              5             15            300           300     
ID     :       2              1              7            350           700     
IA     :       1              1              1            100           100     
KS     :      10             10             10            100           100     
NE     :      10             10             15            150           150     
NM     :       4              1              1             25           100     
OK     :       2              3              2            100            67     
SD     :       1              3              3            300           100     
TX     :      20             10             15             75           150     
WA     :       1              1              1            100           100     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:      10             10             10            100           100     
       :                                                                        
US     :      76             61             86            113           141     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 :Apr 1, :Jan 1, :Apr 1, :Apr 1, :Jan 1, :Apr 1, :Apr 1, :Jan 1, :Apr 1, 
        : 1996  : 1997  : 1997  : 1996  : 1997  : 1997  : 1996  : 1997  : 1997  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :                              1,000 Head                               
        :                                                                       
AZ      :   191     210     199      15      23      25     0       0       0   
CA      :   270     335     340      33      38      37     2       2       3   
CO      :   620     605     645     400     490     435    10      15      10   
ID      :   159     180     164      74      80      70     2       0       1   
IA      :   224     220     193     130     135     146     1       0       1   
KS      : 1,350   1,270   1,370     720     880     880    10      40      20   
NE      : 1,140   1,200   1,200     750     840     810    10      20      20   
NM      :    60      77      70      42      59      48     0       1       0   
OK      :   250     225     235     150     170     160     0       0       0   
SD      :   102      84      89      73      82      59     2       2       4   
TX      : 1,580   1,570   1,470     829   1,049   1,098     1       1       2   
WA      :    91      92      76      51      63      51     0       0       0   
        :                                                                       
Oth Sts :   315     330     335     150     160     120     5      10       5   
        :                                                                       
US      : 6,352   6,398   6,386   3,417   4,069   3,939    43      91      66   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
The next Cattle On Feed report will be released at 3 p.m. ET on May 16, 1997.   
                                                                                
                                                                                
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an equal employment opportunity employer.                                       
                                                                                
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