April 24, 2007

Nebraska slides to second place in US red meat production

The US state of Nebraska fell was dislodged as America's leading commercial red meat production as Kansas topped the nation's meat output by 648,100 heads slaughtered in March.  

Latest figures from the US Department of Agriculture show Nebraska's commercial red meat production was 550.3 million pounds, down 5 percent from the year-ago total of 577.2 million pounds.

Iowa edged the Cornhusker State with 552.2 million pounds.

Nebraska slaughter totalled 532,800 head, down from 558,000 head, and live weight dropped 15 pounds, from 1,313 pounds in March 2006 to 1,297 pounds in March of this year.

Meanwhile, total US red meat production nationwide reached 4.01 billion pounds, dropping by 2 percent from the 4.11 billion pounds produced in March 2006.

Total beef production was down 4 percent from last year at 2.12 million pounds.

Cattle slaughter also declined, with 2.79 million head representing a 2 percent decrease from March 2006. The average live weight, at 1,259 pounds, fell 10 pounds from the prior year.