HDR1012000130011018961500CATTLE ON FEED                                         
Cattle                                                                          
on Feed                                                                         
National                                                                        
Agricultural                                                                    
Statistics                                                                      
Service                                                                         
                                                                                
USDA                                                                            
Washington, D.C.                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
Released October 18, 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 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET.  For assistance with general agricultural      
statistics, information about NASS, its products or services, contact the       
Agricultural Statistics Hotline at 1-800-727-9540 or E-mail:                    
NASS@NASS.USDA.GOV.  The "Cattle On Feed" U.S. Summary is available on AutoFax, 
(202) 720-2000, report 3100.  See back page.                                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                        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 8.84 million head on October 1,     
1996.  The inventory included 5.55 million steers and steer calves.  This group 
accounts for 63 percent of the total inventory.  Heifers and heifer calves      
accounted for 3.25 million head.                                                
                                                                                
Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.64 million.  Net placements   
were 2.57 million.  During September, placements of cattle and calves weighing  
less than 600 pounds were 413,000, 600-699 pounds were 519,000, 700-799 pounds  
were 870,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 841,000.                          
                                                                                
Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.56 million.                 
                                                                                
Other disappearance totaled 70,000 during September.                            
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
     Cattle on Feed in Historic 7 Monthly States Down 3 Percent                 
                                                                                
Cattle on feed October 1, 1996, in the historic 7 monthly States for feedlots   
with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 7.49 million, down 3 percent from   
the previous year but up 3 percent from October 1, 1994.  The inventory included
4.66 million steers and steer calves, down 8 percent from the previous year.    
This group accounts for 62 percent of the total inventory.  Heifers and heifer  
calves accounted for 2.80 million head, up 7 percent from 1995.                 
                                                                                
Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.26 million, 4 percent above   
1995 and 18 percent above 1994.                                                 
                                                                                
Marketings during September totaled 1.33 million, 16 percent below 1995 and 13  
percent below 1994.                                                             
                                                                                
Other disappearance during September was 51,000 head, 11 percent above last year
and 16 percent above 1994.                                                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
          Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and          
                 Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,                 
                          7 States, October 1, 1994-96                          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   :          Number          :  1996 as % of   
                Item               :--------------------------------------------
                                   :  1994  :  1995  :  1996  :  1994  :  1995  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   : ------ 1,000 Head -----        Percent     
                                   :                                            
On Feed Sep 1/                     : 6,949    7,189    6,612      95       92   
Placed on Feed During Sep          : 1,915    2,173    2,257     118      104   
Fed Cattle Marketed During Sep     : 1,525    1,594    1,332      87       84   
Other Disappearance During Sep 2/  :    44       46       51     116      111   
On Feed Oct 1 1/                   : 7,295    7,722    7,486     103       97   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
          Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, Placements, Marketings, and          
                 Other Disappearance, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,                 
                         7 States, September 1, 1994-96                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   :          Number          :  1996 as % of   
                Item               :--------------------------------------------
                                   :  1994  :  1995  :  1996  :  1994  :  1995  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   : ------ 1,000 Head -----        Percent     
                                   :                                            
On Feed Aug 1 1/                   : 6,841    7,391    6,337      93       86   
Placed on Feed During Aug          : 1,761    1,653    1,965     112      119   
Fed Cattle Marketed During Aug     : 1,602    1,815    1,653     103       91   
Other Disappearance During Aug 2/  :    51       40       37      73       93   
On Feed Sep 1 1/                   : 6,949    7,189    6,612      95       92   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, October 1, 1994-96                          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   :          Number          :  1996 as % of   
               Class               :--------------------------------------------
                                   :  1994  :  1995  :  1996  :  1994  :  1995  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   : ------ 1,000 Head -----        Percent     
                                   :                                            
Class on Feed Oct 1                :                                            
  Steers and Steer Calves          : 4,900    5,078    4,656      95       92   
  Heifers and Heifer Calves        : 2,367    2,608    2,798     118      107   
  Cows and Bulls                   :    28       36       32     114       89   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
           Cattle on Feed:  Number on Feed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,           
                by Month, State, and United States 1995-96 1/ 2/                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :               Oct 1, 1996                
       :              :              :------------------------------------------
 State : Oct 1, 1995  : Sep 1, 1996  :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1995     :  Prev. Mo.  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :    ------------ 1,000 Head -----------           ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :      173            182            201           116           110     
CA     :      355            350            355           100           101     
CO     :      934            710            960           103           135     
ID     :      252            250            275           109           110     
IA     :      330            230            260            79           113     
KS     :    2,000          1,790          1,930            97           108     
NE     :    1,570          1,310          1,570           100           120     
NM     :                      90             95                         106     
OK     :      387            300            330            85           110     
SD     :      120            101            110            92           109     
TX     :    2,360          2,040          2,210            94           108     
WA     :      185            168            185           100           110     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:                     310            360                         116     
       :                                                                        
US     :                   7,831          8,841                         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/  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 Sep 1996              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Sep 1995   :   Aug 1996   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1995     :  Prev. Mo.  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :     ----------- 1,000 Head -----------           ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :      42              40             48           114           120     
CA     :      65              55             55            85           100     
CO     :     312             275            395           127           144     
ID     :                      67             73                         109     
IA     :      86              55             74            86           135     
KS     :     520             570            520           100            91     
NE     :     519             460            565           109           123     
NM     :                      14             16                         114     
OK     :                      68             85                         125     
SD     :                      21             40                         190     
TX     :     629             510            600            95           118     
WA     :                      55             47                          85     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:                      75            125                         167     
       :                                                                        
US     :                   2,265          2,643                         117     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Sep                               
 State :------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :   Less 600   :   600-699    :   700-799    :  800 Plus   :    Total    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                               1,000 Head                               
       :                                                                        
CO     :      18             33            156            188            395    
KS     :      69            135            172            144            520    
NE     :      37             95            178            255            565    
TX     :     156            156            204             84            600    
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:     133            100            160            170            563    
       :                                                                        
US     :     413            519            870            841          2,643    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
     Cattle on Feed:  Number Placed on Feed by Weight Group, 1,000+ Capacity    
               Feedlots, by Month, State, and United States, 1996               
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                               During Aug                               
 State :------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :   Less 600   :   600-699    :   700-799    :  800 Plus   :    Total    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :                               1,000 Head                               
       :                                                                        
CO     :      11             25            121            118            275    
KS     :      50            138            250            132            570    
NE     :      22             57            184            197            460    
TX     :     173            148            138             51            510    
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:     115             70            115            150            450    
       :                                                                        
US     :     371            438            808            648          2,265    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                
           Cattle on Feed:  Number Marketed, 1,000+ Capacity Feedlots,          
                  by Month, State, and United States 1995-96 1/                 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :              :              :             During Sep 1996              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Sep 1995   :   Aug 1996   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1995     :  Prev. Mo.  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :     ----------- 1,000 Head -----------           ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :      31              34             29            94            85     
CA     :      45              45             45           100           100     
CO     :     199             220            140            70            64     
ID     :                      44             45                         102     
IA     :      45              49             43            96            88     
KS     :     405             475            370            91            78     
NE     :     360             350            290            81            83     
NM     :                      15             10                          67     
OK     :                      82             52                          63     
SD     :                      25             30                         120     
TX     :     509             480            415            82            86     
WA     :                      31             29                          94     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:                      80             65                          81     
       :                                                                        
US     :                   1,930          1,563                          81     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Sep 1996              
       :    During    :    During    :------------------------------------------
 State :   Sep 1995   :   Aug 1996   :              :   as % of   :   as % of   
       :              :              :    Number    :    1995     :  Prev. Mo.  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       :      ---------- 1,000 Head ----------            ---- Percent ----     
       :                                                                        
AZ     :       1              1              0                                  
CA     :       5              5              5            100           100     
CO     :       5              5              5            100           100     
ID     :                      3              3                          100     
IA     :       1              1              1            100           100     
KS     :       5              5             10            200           200     
NE     :       9             10             15            167           150     
NM     :                      3              1                           33     
OK     :                      1              3                          300     
SD     :                      0              1                                  
TX     :      20             10             15             75           150     
WA     :                      1              1                          100     
       :                                                                        
Oth Sts:                      5             10                          200     
       :                                                                        
US     :                     50             70                          140     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 :Oct 1, :Jul 1, :Oct 1, :Oct 1, :Jul 1, :Oct 1, :Oct 1, :Jul 1, :Oct 1, 
        : 1995  : 1996  : 1996  : 1995  : 1996  : 1996  : 1995  : 1996  : 1996  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        :                              1,000 Head                               
        :                                                                       
AZ      :   163     160     185     10       13      16     0       0       0   
CA      :   310     310     320     44       34      34     1       1       1   
CO      :   561     450     570    358      295     380    15       5      10   
ID      :   187     163     195     63       61      78     2       1       2   
IA      :   205     147     161    125      103      99     0       0       0   
KS      : 1,365   1,030   1,210    630      640     710     5      20      10   
NE      :   930     740     880    626      530     680    14      10      10   
NM      :            56      51              42      44             0       0   
OK      :   242     205     200    145      123     130     0       2       0   
SD      :    60      67      66     55       52      43     5       2       1   
TX      : 1,544   1,340   1,330    815      749     879     1       1       1   
WA      :   112      85     111     73       53      74     0       0       0   
        :                                                                       
Oth Sts :           255     270              90      85             5       5   
        :                                                                       
US      :         5,008   5,549           2,785   3,252            47      40   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Missing data not available.                                                 
                                                                                
The next "Cattle On Feed" report will be released at 3 P.M. ET on November 22,  
1996.                                                                           
                                                                                
                                                                                
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in  
its programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age,  
disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status.  Persons with    
disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program         
information (braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact the USDA     
Office of Communications at (202) 720-5881 (voice) or (202) 720-7808 (TDD).     
                                                                                
To file a complaint, write the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington, D.C.,
20250, or call (202) 720-7327 (voice) or (202) 720-1127 (TDD).  USDA is an equal
employment opportunity employer.                                                
                                                                                
                                                                                
                         SUBSCRIBE TODAY!!                                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
For your convenience, there are several ways to obtain NASS reports, data       
products, and services:                                                         
                                                                                
                                                                                
                          INTERNET ACCESS                                       
                                                                                
All NASS reports are now available free of charge on the worldwide Internet.    
For access, connect to the Internet and select:                                 
                                                                                
   1.  Worldwide Web:  http://www.usda.gov/nass/       OR                       
                                                                                
   2.  For Gopher/Telenet/FTP access:                                           
       HOST=usda.mannlib.cornell.edu        OR                                  
                                                                                
   3.  For a subscription direct to your e-mail address,                        
       send an e-mail message to:  usda-reports@usda.mannlib.cornell.edu        
       and in the body of the message type the word:  list                      
                                                                                
                                                                                
                           AUTOFAX ACCESS                                       
                                                                                
   NASSFax service is available for some reports from your fax machine.         
   Please call 202-720-2000, using the handset attached to your fax.            
   Respond to the voice prompts.                                                
                                                                                
         - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -      
                  PRINTED REPORTS OR DATA PRODUCTS                              
CALL OUR TOLL-FREE ORDER DESK:   1-800-999-6779 (U.S. and Canada)               
Other areas, please call l-703-834-0125        FAX:  1-703-834-0110             
 (Visa, MasterCard, check, or money order acceptable for payment.)              
       - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -      
                                                                                
                                                                                
                             ASSISTANCE                                         
                                                                                
For assistance with general agricultural statistics or further information about
NASS or its products or services, contact the Agricultural Statistics Hotline at
1-800-727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: NASS@NASS.USDA.GOV.