<ARTICLE>  5
<LEGEND>
FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE AS OF AND FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
JUNE 30, 1997
(Columnar Dollars in Thousands Except Per Share Data)

THIS   SCHEDULE   CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION
EXTRACTED FROM THE FIRST QUARTER 1997 FORM 10-QSB OF RED OAK
HEREFORD  FARMS, INC., AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS  ENTIRETY  BY
REFERENCE TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTAINED THEREIN.
</LEGEND>
                                                    
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    6-MOS                     
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                    DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                                       JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                         JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                            55,000                     
<SECURITIES>                           0                    
<RECEIVABLES>                  4,316,810                   
<ALLOWANCES>                           0                    
<INVENTORY>                    1,297,639                   
<CURRENT-ASSETS>               5,873,730                   
<PP&E>                           470,758                    
<DEPRECIATION>                   189,132                   
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                 6,211,359                   
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>          3,289,100                   
<BONDS>                        1,768,047                    
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                  0                    
<PREFERRED>                            0                    
<COMMON>                          13,736                    
<OTHER-SE>                     1,140,476                   
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>   6,211,359                   
<SALES>                       49,973,658                   
<TOTAL-REVENUES>              49,977,326                   
<CGS>                         50,363,282                  
<TOTAL-COSTS>                 50,363,282                    
<OTHER-EXPENSES>               1,287,017                   
<LOSS-PROVISION>                       0                   
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>             (178,824)                   
<INCOME-PRETAX>              (1,851,797)                   
<INCOME-TAX>                           0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>          (1,851,797)
<DISCONTINUED>                         0                    
<EXTRAORDINARY>                        0                    
<CHANGES>                              0                    
<NET-INCOME>                 (1,851,797)                   
<EPS-PRIMARY>                     (0.14)                    
<EPS-DILUTED>                          0