Fiscal Year Figures On Imports
Of Livestock Both Up And Down

WASHINGTON —(USDA)— Fiscal year livestock import figures for 1996 show a total of 4.9 million cattle, hogs and sheep entered the U.S. from Canada and Mexico, as tabulated by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The 1996 fiscal year ended October 31.

January through November 22 figures this year indicate Canadian cattle imports are running about 32 percent above a year ago and hogs are up 69 percent. Mexican feeder cattle imports are running only about one-fifth the number of last year’s drouth-influenced volume.

Cattle imports from Mexico during the 1996 fiscal year totaled 584,658 head including 551,836 feeders, 32,556 spayed heifers and 266 for slaughter. The bulk, 351,131 head, entered through Texas, 197,997 entered through Arizona, and 2708 through New Mexico.

There were 1,491,237 Canadian cattle imported during the 1996 fiscal year, including 1,280,108 for slaughter, 181,789 feeders and 29,340 breeders. The four northwestern states received 1,094,086 slaughter cattle and 160,388 feeders. Most of the breeding cattle entered through the Northeast.

Hog imports totaled 2,800,437 head during fiscal year 1996 including 2,073,182 slaughter hogs, 662,315 feeder pigs and 64,940 breeders. Bulk of the shipments came through North Dakota and Michigan.

Slaughter sheep imports were 40,272 in fiscal year 1996, with North Dakota receiving 29,510 and Montana 10,182 head.

Texas year to date exports through Friday, November 25 were around 93 percent above year ago figures at 474,006 head. Cattle exports amount to 118,065 head compared to 9606 last year. Slaughter cattle show the largest increase at 102,609 this year compared to 543 last year.

Sheep exports amount to 222,194 head, slightly above the 220,799 of last year. Slaughter ewes are the major class at 221,717 this year and 215,535 last year.

Hog exports for the year to date are 35,107 compared to 3760 last year. Slaughter hogs totaled 31,842 so far this year.

Goat exports are 95,549 head compared to 8473 last year. Exports this year include 72,110 Angoras and 23,280 Spanish goats.