September 3, 2004

Beef, Pork Production Fall In Hawaii

Beef and pork production in Hawaii continue to be lower than year-before levels, as the state increasingly relies on meat shipped from the mainland.

However, there is enough domestic beef and pork production to supply around 1 million pounds of meat a month for local consumption.

Beef

Cattle marketings for July totaled 2,700. The figure is the same as June, but down from 3,600 a year ago, according to the Hawaii Agricultural Statistics Service.

Out-of-state shipments accounted for most of the decline as exports decreased 32 percent from a year ago to 1,700 head. For the year-to-date, cumulative marketings are down 28 percent from last year, driven by exports which fell 35 percent.

Commercial beef production for local slaughter in July totaled 599,000 pounds, compared with 626,000 pounds in the same month last year. Commercial kill for July 2004 totaled 1,000 head, 100 fewer than a year ago. Average live weight per head, at 1,091 pounds, was 2 percent heavier than the previous year.

Mainland beef production is also down slightly. National beef production is running 14 percent below year-ago levels, which is still well over 2 billion pounds a month.

Pork

Hawaii pork production is down 11 percent from last year. July commercial production records 373,000 pounds, falling from 418,000 pounds in July 2003.

Total hog kill of 2,500 head was 100 head fewer than a year ago. Average live weight per head, at 201 pounds, was 5 percent lighter than the year before.

National pork production in July was 1.58 billion pounds, down slightly from last year.