21.   Meatpackers also expect a large feeder cattle herd to reach market weight in the next three months when there are plentiful supplies of pork and poultry.

22.   Ranchers are boosting the number of animals they take to market because warmer weather helps cattle reach market weight faster.

23.   Rising feed costs reduce profits for fattening animals for slaughter, with nine pounds of feed needed to add one pound of market weight.

24.   Rising feed costs probably will reduce demand for feeder cattle because it reduces the profitability of raising young animals to market weight.

25.   Since it usually takes about four months to raise feeder cattle to market weight, those additional animals should be ready for slaughter in the coming weeks.

26.   Severe cold weather during January kept many hogs from reaching market weight and prevented the shipment of some market-ready animals to slaughter.

27.   Since it takes feedlot operators about four months to raise cattle to market weight, the higher feedlot figures for June suggest ample beef supplies in the months ahead.

28.   Since O it usually takes about four months to raise feeder cattle to market weight, those additional animals should be ready for slaughter in the coming weeks.

29.   Such an increase would result in ample beef supplies in August as the animals reach market weight.

30.   Supplies of cattle should build in the coming months as young cattle recently placed on feed reach market weight.