May 4, 2011

US red meat production decreases in March

Idaho packing plants' commercial red meat output for March 2011 amounted 13.4 million pounds, declining 22% from last March, according to the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Accumulated red meat production for the January-March 2011 period totalled 41.5 million pounds, down 18% from the comparable period a year earlier.

Commercial red meat production for the US totalled 4.35 billion pounds in March, up 2% from the 4.28 billion pounds produced in March 2010. Beef production, at 2.27 billion pounds, was 2% above the previous year.

Cattle slaughter totalled 2.96 million head, up 2% from March 2010. The average live weight was up three pounds from the previous year, at 1,276 pounds.

Veal production totalled 12.1 million pounds, 1% below March a year ago.

Calf slaughter totalled 72,900 head, down 9% from March 2010. The average live weight was up 24 pounds from last year, at 283 pounds.

Pork production totalled 2.05 billion pounds, up 1% from the previous year. Hog slaughter totalled 9.87 million head, down 2% from March 2010.

The average live weight was up six pounds from the previous year, at 278 pounds.

Accumulated beef production was up 35 from last year, veal was down 3% whereas pork was up 2% from last year.