September 29, 2014

The United States' commercial red meat production in August was down 10% to 1.72 million tonnes from 1.9 million tonnes in the same month last year, data from the US Department of Agriculture shows.

Cattle slaughter amounted to 2.5 million head, down 11% from August 2013, but the average live weight was up 19 pounds from 2013, at 1,329 pounds.

The eight-month commercial red meat production (January to August 2014) reached 14.15 million tonnes, down 4% from 2013.

Almost half of the total production in August comprised beef, which was lower than that of 2013 by 10%, at 916,256 tonnes.

The number of cows slaughtered in August totalled 43,600, down 32% from last year, while the average live weight was up 16.7 kg from last year's 125.6 kg. 

Veal production in August totalled 3.2 million or 22% below the year-ago level.

Compared to the same period last year, accumulated beef production in the first eight months was down 6%, veal down 12%, pork down 2%, and lamb and mutton down 1%.