June 26, 2012

US red meat production in May up 7% from 2011

US commercial red meat production has reached 4,182.8 million pounds for May 2012, an increase of 9% from a month earlier and a rise by 7% from May 2011, according to the USDA.

May's beef production was 2,232 million pounds, up 12% from April and up 5% from May 2011. Cattle slaughter totalled 2.88 million head, up 2% from the previous year. The average live weight of cattle at slaughter was 1,280 pounds, up 27 pounds from May 2011.

Pork production was a record-high (for May) 1,926.8 million pounds, up 5% from April and up 9% from the previous year, the USDA said. Commercial hog slaughter totalled 9.28 million head, up 9% from the previous year. The average live weight of slaughter hogs was 277 pounds, up two pounds from a year earlier.

Veal production was 10.4 million pounds, up 5% from April and up 1% from May 2011. The average live weight of calves at slaughter was 295 pounds, up seven pounds from the previous year.