June 26, 2010

 

US pork output down 5% in May

 

 

Commercial red meat production for the US totalled 3.73 billion pounds in May, down 5% from the 3.92 billion pounds produced in May 2009, according to a USDA livestock report issued Friday (June 25).

 

Pork production totalled 1.62 billion pounds, down 6% from the previous year.  Hog kill totalled 7.97 million heads, down 6% from May 2009. The average live weight was up one pound from the previous year, at 272 pounds.

 

Meanwhile, beef production, at 2.09 billion pounds, was 4% below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totalled 2.79 million heads, down 2% from May 2009. The average live weight was down 15 pounds from the previous year, at 1,249 pounds.

 

January-May 2010 commercial red meat production was 19.7 billion pounds, down 2% from 2009. Accumulated beef production was down 1% from last year, while pork was down 4% from last year.