Red Meat Production Beneath Last Month

WASHINGTON - Apr 25/08 - SNS -- Commercial red meat for the United States totalled 4.09 billion pounds in March, up 2% from the 4.01 billion pounds produced in March 2007, judging from the current USDA data.

Beef production, at 2.10 billion pounds, was 1% below last year. Cattle slaughter totalled 2.73 million head, down 2% from March 2007. The average live weight was up 16 pounds from the previous year, at 1,276 pounds.

Veal production totalled 11.2 million pounds, 17% below March a year ago. Calf slaughter totalled 70,800 head, up slightly from March 2007. The average live weight was down 48 pounds from last year, at 273 pounds.

Pork production totalled 1.96 billion pounds, up 5% from the previous year. Hog kill totalled 9.66 million head, up 5% from March 2007. The average live weight was up 1 pound from the previous year, at 271 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 16.0 million pounds, was down 18% from March 2007. Sheep slaughter totalled 230,900 head, 17% below last year. The average live weight was 139 pounds, down 1 pound from March a year ago.

Subscribers can read the full text of the article by Clicking here