March 7, 2007

US meat production reaches record high
 

Total red meat production in the US reached a record 47.7 billion pounds (21.68 million tonnes) in 2006, up 4 percent year-on-year, according to a report from the US Department of Agriculture.

The Livestock slaughter summary 2006 report showed that beef production reached 26.3 billion pounds or 11.95 metric tonnes over last year, up 6 percent year-on-year, while veal production reached just 155 million pounds (70,400 tonnes), down 6 percent year-on-year. Meanwhile, pork production reached 21.1 billion pounds (9.59 metric tonnes), up 2 percent year-on-year, while lamb and mutton production fell 1 percent on 2005 levels to 190 million pounds (86,360 tonnes).

The state of Nebraska was again the top red-meat producing state in the US, capturing 15 percent of total production, according to the USDA. The states of Iowa and Kansas followed, producing 13.7 percent and 12.9 percent respectively, while output in Texas, the fourth-largest meat producing state accounted for 10.4 percent.