US red meat production down three percent on-year

The National Agricultural Statistics Service said October red meat production in the US declined three percent on-year to 4.39 billion pounds.

Beef production dropped three percent on-year to 2.28 billion pounds, while cattle slaughter also declined three percent from October 2008 to 2.89 million head. The average live weight was up nine pounds from the previous year to 1,312 pounds.

Veal production totalled 12.2 million pounds, down 10 percent from October 2008. Calf slaughter totalled 83,600 head, down 13 percent on-year. The average live weight was up five pounds from last year to 249 pounds.

Pork production totalled 2.09 billion pounds, down three percent on-year. Hog kill dropped four percent on-year to 10.3 million head, while average live weight increased three pounds to 272 pounds.

Accumulated beef production for January-October was down three percent from last year, veal was down four percent, and pork was down two percent from last year.

Idaho's red meat production during October dropped 15 percent on-year to 19.3 million pounds. October production was down one percent from September. Total output for the first 10 months of 2009 reached 191.2 million pounds, down two percent on-year.