December 28, 2005

US November red meat output up

US pork production rose to a record 1.84 billion pounds in November, lifting red meat output by 5 percent.

Meat slaughter plants in the US produced a total of 3.94 billion pounds (1.77 billion kilogrammes) of beef, pork, and lamb in November, a 5 percent increase from the 3.77 billion pounds produced in November 2004, according to the US Department of Agriculture.

November 2005 pork production was at 1.84 billion pounds--up 2 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughtered totalled 9.13 million head, 2 percent above November 2004. The average liveweight was two pounds above the previous year, at 272 pounds.

Beef production, at 2.07 billion pounds, was 7 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totalled 2.67 million head, up 5 percent from November 2004. Average cattle liveweight was also higher at 16 pounds compared with 1,284 pounds in the previous year.

Veal production was at 12.4 million pounds, 10 percent below year-ago numbers. Calf slaughter totalled 56,300 head, down 17 percent from November 2004. The average calf liveweight was 29 pounds above last year's, at 365 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 15.8 million pounds, was down 4 percent from November 2004. Sheep slaughtered totalled 224,500 head--7 percent below last year. The average liveweight was 141 pounds, up five pounds from November a year ago.

Commercial red meat production from January to November 2005 was 41.8 billion pounds, up 1 percent from 2004. Accumulated beef production was up 1 percent from last year. Comparing year-on-year figures, veal production was down 6 percent, pork was up 1 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 4 percent.