<ARTICLE> 5  
<CIK> 0000016104  
<NAME> CAGLE'S, INC.  
<MULTIPLIER> 1000  
         
                               
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS 
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          APR-03-1999 
<PERIOD-START>                             MAR-29-1998 
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-03-1998 
<CASH>                                             379 
<SECURITIES>                                         0 
<RECEIVABLES>                                    20056 
<ALLOWANCES>                                       972 
<INVENTORY>                                      29613 
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 49944 
<PP&E>                                          106974 
<DEPRECIATION>                                   46501 
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  139143 
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            27674 
<BONDS>                                          36278 
<COMMON>                                          4784 
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0 
<PREFERRED>                                          0 
<OTHER-SE>                                       58184 
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    139143 
<SALES>                                          92802 
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 92802 
<CGS>                                            77826 
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    82527 
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                (1849) 
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0 
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 792 
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  11332 
<INCOME-TAX>                                      3996 
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               7336 
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0 
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0 
<CHANGES>                                            0 
<NET-INCOME>                                      7336 
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.49 
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.49