June 11, 2008
US red meat production hits 48.8 billion pounds in 2007
US red meat production hit a new record in 2007, reaching 48.8 billion pounds, 2 percent higher than the previous year, according to figures from the USDA.
Red meat production in commercial plants totaled 48.7 billion pounds with on-farm production amounting to 135 million pounds.
There were 808 plants slaughtering cattle under federal inspection on January 1, 2008 compared with 795 last year. Of these, 626 plants were operational.
The 14 largest plants accounted for 54 percent of the total cattle slaughtered.
Of the 618 hog slaughtering plants, just 11 accounted for 51 percent of all hogs slaughtered.
|
Livestock slaughter statistics in 2007 | ||
|
|
Weight (billion pounds) |
Percentage change from 2006 |
|
Beef production |
26.5 |
1% |
|
Veal production |
0.146 |
-6% |
|
Pork production |
22 |
4% |
|
Lamb & mutton |
0.188 |
-1% |
|
Cattle slaughter |
34.3 million head |
2% |
|
Average live weight |
1,273 pounds |
- 2 pounds |
|
Hog slaughter |
109.2 million head |
4 % |
|
Average live weight |
269 pound |
Unchanged |
