April 28, 2009

US pork production up slightly in March; hog slaughter down

US pork production totalled 1.97 billion pounds in March, up slightly from the same period last year, while hog slaughter totalled 9.65 million heads, down slightly from March 2008.

According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, total commercial red meat production for the US totalled 4.14 billion pounds in March, up one percent from March 2008. The average live weight, at 272 pounds, was up one pound from the previous year.

Total US pork production for January through March time period was down four percent from last year. January to March 2009 total commercial red meat production was 12.1 billion pounds, down three percent from 2008.