May 2, 2005

Hawaii beef, pork output down

Hawaii cattle marketing is 17 percent below year-before levels and local pork production is down 7 percent, state agriculture officials said.

Based on February figures, cattle marketings totalled 2,000 head, down from 2,400 a year ago and 3,600 the month before.

Local slaughter totalled 385,000 pounds, compared with 456,000 pounds a year ago. Commercial kill totalled 700 head, 100 fewer than a year ago. Average live weight per head, at 1,058 pounds, was 2 percent lighter.

Hawaii pork production fell 7 percent in February to 288,000 pounds from 311,000 pounds a year ago.