News Update

News Update
Oct. 23, 2006

U.S. Cattle on Feed Up 9%

Cattle and calves on feed for harvest in the United States for feedlots with capacities of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.4 million head on Oct. 1, 2006. The inventory was 9% above Oct. 1, 2005, and 8% above Oct. 1, 2004. This is the highest Oct. 1 inventory since the series began in 1996.

The inventory included 7.20 million steers and steer calves, up 5% from the previous year. This group accounted for 63% of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.12 million head, up 16% from 2005.

Placements in feedlots during September totaled 2.23 million, 5% below 2005 and 6% below 2004. Net placements were 2.16 million head. During September, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds (lb.) were 725,000; 600-699 lb. were 412,000; 700-799 lb. were 450,000; and 800 lb. and greater were 645,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during September totaled 1.77 million, 3% below 2005 and 2% below 2004. This is the second-lowest fed-cattle marketings for the month of September since the series began in 1996.

Other disappearance totaled 68,000 during September, 19% above 2005 and 11% above 2004.

— release provided by National Agricultural Statistics Service

Let’s Eat Out: Americans Weigh Taste, Convenience, and Nutrition

Whether eating out or buying carryout, Americans are consuming more and more of their calories from full-service and fast-food restaurant fare. The share of daily caloric intake from food purchased and/or eaten away from home increased from 18% to 32% between the late 1970s and the middle 1990s, and the away-from-home market grew to account for about half of total food expenditures in 2004, up from 34% in 1974.

Analysis of a survey of U.S. consumers indicates that respondents want convenience and an enjoyable dining experience, but the desire for health also plays a role, as does diet-health knowledge.

For a summary of this article see www.ers.usda.gov/publications/eib19/eib19_reportsummary.pdf. For the article in full text see www.ers.usda.gov/publications/eib19/eib19.pdf.

— release provided by USDA ERS

USDA Releases 2005 U.S. Animal Health Report

The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) Oct. 10 released the 2005 U.S. Animal Health Report, a national overview of domestic animal health in the United States.

The report addresses the many components of the U.S. animal health infrastructure, animal population demographics, approaches to foreign animal disease surveillance and new initiatives. As an annual publication, the U.S. Animal Health Report is updated and refined each year. It provides a valuable method to communicate with stakeholders and the public about the status of animal health in the United States.

Animal health initiatives highlighted in the 2005 U.S. Animal Health Report include the following.

The national aquatic animal health plan (NAAHP), developed in cooperation with industry, state and local governments. NAAHP’s purpose is to foster and support effective and efficient aquaculture, protect the health of wild and cultured aquatic resources in the United States, and meet national and international trade obligations.
The revisions to the national veterinary accreditation program. This program emphasizes the lifetime education of accredited veterinarians through training modules that provide the latest information on the transmission, recognition and reporting of exotic diseases and emerging diseases and updates on program policy and procedures.

The 2005 U.S. Animal Health Report is available on the APHIS web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2006/10/ahr2005.shtml.

— release provided by USDA News