Record Red Meat Production in U.S.

WASHINGTON - Mar 7/08 - SNS -- Red meat production in the United States set a new record in 2007, rising 2% to 48.8 billion pounds, according to the USDA. Red meat production in commercial plants totaled 48.7 billion pounds. On-farm production totaled 135 million pounds.

Beef production totaled 26.5 billion pounds, up 1% from the previous year. Veal production totaled 146 million pounds, down 6% from last year. Pork production, at 22.0 billion pounds, was 4% above the previous year. Lamb and mutton production totaled 188 million pounds, down 1% from 2006.

Commercial cattle slaughter during 2007 totaled 34.3 million head, up 2% from 2006, with federal inspection comprising 98.4% of the total. The average live weight was 1,269 pounds, down 2 pounds from a year ago. Steers comprised 51.3% of the total federally inspected cattle slaughter, heifers 30.3%, dairy cows 7.4%, other cows 9.4%, and bulls 1.6%.

Commercial calf slaughter totaled 758,100 head, 7% higher than a year ago with 98.2% under federal inspection. The average live weight was 303 pounds, down 39 pounds from a year earlier.

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