December 24, 2004

U.S. Meat Production Down 3 Percent For Year Ended November; November Production Up 7 Percent

Commercial red meat production in the U.S. was down three percent from 2003 for the first eleven months of the year, USDA said in its Monthly Slaughter report released Thursday afternoon. However, USDA reports showed meat production in the month of November registered a 7% increase at a total of 3.77 billion pounds, compared to last year's output of 3.53 billion pounds.

Meat production for the other 11 months was 41.5 billion pounds.

Accumulated beef production for the year up to November was down 7 percent from last year, veal was down 12 percent, pork production was up 3 percent, and lamb and mutton production was down 3 percent.

In November alone, pork production totaled 1.80 billion pounds, a new monthly record, and was up 5 percent from the previous year. Hog kill totaled 8.96 million head, 4 percent above November 2003. The average live weight was 1 pound above the previous year, at 270 pounds.

Pork production in November totaled 1.8 billion pounds, a new monthly record, up 5 percent from 2003. Hog kill totaled 8.96 million head, 4 percent above November 2003. The average live weight was 1 pound above the previous year, at 270 pounds.