Total Value of Pennsylvania's Livestock on the Decline

                               January 10, 1997


            Total Value of Pennsylvania's Livestock on the Decline

The total value of all livestock in Pennsylvania is on the decline.

The livestock value, including cattle, hogs and sheep, was $1.36
billion at the end of 1995, a decrease from $1.45 billion at the
end of 1994.

Statistics compiled by the Pennsylvania State Data Center at Penn
State Harrisburg show 33,000 farms reporting cattle inventory in
1995, a number that has remained unchanged for the third consecutive
year.

Cattle inventory in the Commonwealth totaled 1.79 million on Jan.
1, 1996.  This was a 2.3 percent increase from the previous year
total of 1.75 million.  Among the states, Pennsylvania ranked
19th in cattle inventory and 4th in milk cows at the beginning
of 1996.  Lancaster County was the state leader with 251,000
head, followed by Franklin with 101,000 and Bradford with 92,000.

There were 1,000,000 hogs and pigs on Pennsylvania farms at the
end of 1995, a decrease from 1,090,000 in 1994. The total value
of Pennsylvania's hog and pig inventory was $71,000,000. The
state has witnessed a continuing decline in the number or hog
and pig farms, with the most recent yearly decline of 300 farms
from 1994 to 1995.  Currently the number of hog and pig operations
stands at 5,500 statewide, ranking Pennsylvania 12th in the U.S.

The state saw a slight drop in sheep and lamb inventory from
110,000 head in 1995 to 107,000 head in 1996, continuing a
six-year decline in inventory since 1991.  The total value of
this livestock stood at $10,700,000 at the end of 1996. Among
the states, Pennsylvania ranks 17th in sheep and lamb inventory.

Washington County had the largest sheep and lamb inventory, 8,700
head, as of Jan. 1, 1996, with Greene County a close second at
8,200, and Lancaster County third with 5,900.

The state-sponsored Pennsylvania State Data Center is the
Commonwealth's official source of population and economic
statistics and services. It is based in Penn State Harrisburg's
Institute of State and Regional Affairs.



________________________________________________________________

EDITORS: For additional information, contact Jennifer Shultz at
the Data Center's Capital Office, (717) 772-2710, or the Penn
State Harrisburg Public Information Office, (717) 948-6029.


Source of Information:	Pennsylvania Department of
			Agriculture
			
Accompany Table:        Livestock on Farm and Value, 1995-1996