U.S. Red Meat Output Up in 2006

WASHINGTON - Mar 2/07 - SNS -- Red meat production ended up at 47.7 billion pounds in 2006, 4% higher than the previous year, according to the USDA's annual report for 2006.

Red meat includes beef, veal, pork, and lamb and mutton. Red meat production in commercial plants totaled 47.5 billion pounds. On farm production totaled 139 million pounds.

Beef production totaled 26.3 billion pounds, up 6% from the previous year. Veal production totaled 155 million pounds, down 6% from last year. Pork production, at 21.1 billion pounds, was 2% above the previous year. Lamb and mutton production totaled 190 million pounds, down 1% from 2005.

Commercial cattle slaughter during 2006 totaled 33.7 million head, up 4% from 2005, with federal inspection comprising 98.4% of the total. The average live weight was 1,275 pounds, up 19 pounds from a year ago. Steers comprised 52.7% of the total federally inspected cattle slaughter, heifers 29.6%, dairy cows 7.1%, other cows 9.0%, and bulls 1.5%.

Commercial calf slaughter totaled 711,300 head, 3% lower than a year ago with 98.2% under federal inspection. The average live weight was 345 pounds, down 8 pounds from a year earlier.

Commercial hog slaughter totaled 104.7 million head, 1% higher than 2005 with 99.0% of the hogs slaughtered under federal inspection. The average live weight was unchanged from last year, at 269 pounds. Barrows and gilts comprised 96.6% of the total federally inspected hog slaughter.

Commercial sheep and lamb slaughter, at 2.70 million head, was up slightly from the previous year with 94.4% comprised by federal inspection. The average live weight was down 1 pound from 2005 to 137 pounds. Lambs and yearlings comprised 95.4% of the total federally inspected sheep slaughter.

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