September 26, 2005

US red meat output up six percent in August 2005

According to the USDA, commercial red meat output in the US reached 4.10 billion pounds in August 2005, up six percent compared with 3.88 billion pounds during the same period in 2004.

Beef output in August this year totalled 2.32 billion pounds, up eight percent compared with the same period last year. The corresponding cattle slaughter totalled 2.99 million head, up six percent from August 2004.

Veal output was 13.7 million pounds, down two percent from August last year. The corresponding calf slaughter totalled 65,600 head, down 10 percent from the same period in 2004.

Meanwhile, pork output totalled 1.75 billion pounds, up three percent from August the previous year. The corresponding hog slaughter totalled 8.98 million head, up 3 percent from August 2004.    

Lamb and mutton production rose 1 percent from August 2004 to register 15.4 million pounds in August this year. The corresponding sheep slaughter totalled 229,300 head, down 2 percent from last year. 

The cumulative commercial red meat output for January to August 2005 was 30.0 billion pounds, up slightly from the same period in 2004.