March 24, 2023

Drop in US commercial red meat production last February

US commercial red meat production declined in February this year.

Beef production was 2.092 billion pounds, a drop of 7% from February 2022. This is due to a 5% decline in the slaughter to 2.548 million head, as a result of tighter available numbers and a 21 pound drop in average live weight at 1,374 pounds.

The monthly dairy cow slaughter was 266,500 head, 31,400 less than in January but unchanged from February 2022. The year-to-date dairy cow slaughter is 1,148,600 head, 5,100 ahead of the 2022 pace.

Pork production was 2.157 billion pounds, down 1% on the year as a slight increase in the slaughter rate to 9.974 million head was canceled out by a two pound decrease in the average live weight to 291 pounds.

February's commercial red meat production total was 4.263 billion pounds, 4% under the year before, with year-to-date production 9.028 billion pounds, slightly ahead of the 2022 pace.

- Brownfield Ag News