Record Red Meat Output in April

WASHINGTON - May 24/02 - SNS -- Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 3.90 billion pounds in April, up 11% from the 3.51 billion pounds produced in April 2001 and a new record high for April, according to the latest production report from the USDA.

This lifted year to date meat production to 15.2 billion pounds, 4% above the previous year. Accumulated beef production was up 6% from last year, veal was down 4%, pork was up 2%, and lamb and mutton was down 4%.

Beef production, at 2.19 billion pounds, was 13% above the previous year and a new record high for April. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.95 million head, up 9% from April 2001. The average live weight was 1,227 pounds, up 41 pounds from April a year ago.

Veal production totaled 16.1 million pounds, 6% above April a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 82,000 head, up 10% from April 2001. The average live weight was 327 pounds, down 13 pounds from April a year ago.

Pork production totaled 1.67 billion pounds, up 9% from the previous year and a new record high for April. Hog kill totaled 8.43 million head, 8% above April 2001. The average live weight was 267 pounds, up 2 pounds from April a year ago.

Lamb and mutton production, at 19.1 million pounds, was down 5% from April 2001. Sheep slaughter totaled 278,300 head, 4% below last year. The average live weight was 138 pounds, down 2 pounds from April a year ago.

                Commercial Red Meat Production:  United States 1/
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                :       :       :       : Apr 02 % of  :      Jan - Apr 2/
                :  Apr  :  Mar  :  Apr  :---------------------------------------
      Class     : 2001  : 2002  : 2002  :  Apr  : Mar  :       :       :02 as %
                :       :       :       : 2001  : 2002 : 2001  : 2002  : of 01
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                :---- Million Pounds ---     Percent    Million Pounds  Percent
                :
Beef            :1,939   2,059   2,194     113    107   8,121   8,570     106
Veal            :   15.2    15.0    16.1   106    107      65.1    62.3    96
Pork            :1,533   1,581   1,673     109    106   6,338   6,451     102
Lamb & Mutton   :   20.2    22.3    19.1    95     86      80.1    76.7    96
                :
Total Red Meat  :3,507   3,677   3,902     111    106  14,604  15,161     104
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1/  Based on packers' dressed weights and excludes farm slaughter.
2/  Accumulated totals and percentages based on unrounded data.