US red meat production down five percent

The US commercial red meat production totalled 4.08 billion pounds in April, down five percent from the 4.30 billion pounds produced in April 2008, according to the USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) monthly livestock slaughter report.

Pork production totalled 1.92 billion pounds, down five percent from the previous year. Hog kill totalled 9.43 million head, down six percent from April 2008.

The average live weight was up three pounds from the previous year, at 272 pounds.

January to April 2009 commercial red meat production was 16.2 billion pounds, down three percent from 2008. Accumulated pork production was down four percent from last year.