April 28, 2008

US red meat production up 2 percent
 

The US' commercial red meat production reached 4.09 billion pounds in March, up 2 percent from 4.01 billion pounds in March 2007.

Beef production totalled 2.10 billion pounds, 1 percent less than the previous year. Cattle slaughter was down 2 percent from March 2007 at 2.73 million head.

Production of veal was 11.2 million pounds, 17 percent less than March 2007. Calf slaughter reached 70,800 head, up slightly from the same period last year.

Pork production was 1.96 billion pounds, up 5 percent from the previous year. Hog kill totalled 9.66 million head, up 5 percent from March 2007.

Production of lamb and mutton reached 16 million pounds, down 18 percent from March 2007. Sheep slaughter totalled 230,900 head.

Accumulated beef production grew 2 percent from 2007, while veal was down 16 percent. Pork was up 12 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was 7 percent less.