June 10, 2005

Slight drop in US meat production from 2004
 

Cumulative red meat production for the year as of early June was down 1.3 percent at 18.640 billion pounds, according to the US government.

Cumulative cattle slaughter was down 4.3 percent at 13.153 million head, while beef production fell 2.6 percent at 9.870 billion pounds.

Cumulative calf and veal slaughter slipped 11.6 percent at 326,000 head, veal production was down 11.1 percent at 64.900 million pounds.

Cumulative hog slaughter was down 0.6 percent at 42.860 million, but pork production rose 0.3 percent to reach 8.600 billion pounds.

Cumulative sheep and lamb slaughter dipped 5.6 percent at 1.093 million head, with lamb and mutton production also down 4.4 percent at 78.500 million pounds.