September 27, 2010

US red meat output up marginally in August

Commercial red meat production for the US totalled 4.13 billion pounds in August, up 1% from the 4.08 billion pounds produced in August 2009.

Pork production totalled 1.82 billion pounds, down 3% from the previous year. Hog kill totalled 9.11 million head, down 2% from August 2009. The average live weight was down one pound from the previous year, at 267 pounds.

Beef production, at 2.29 billion pounds, was 5% above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totalled 2.96 million heads, up 6% from August 2009. The average live weight was down 16 pounds from the previous year, at 1,277 pounds.

Calf slaughter totalled 76,200 head, down 1% from August 2009. The average live weight was up 20 pounds from last year, at 254 pounds.

January-August 2010 commercial red meat production was 31.9 billion pounds, down 2% from 2009. Accumulated beef production was up slightly from last year, veal was down 1%, pork was down 4% from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 3%.