October 20, 2003

Deterioration of Hawaii's Beef Business

The cattle business in Hawaii has worsened compared to last year's levels, according to the latest report from the Hawaii Agricultural Statistics Service.

August cattle marketings totalled 3,100 head, compared with 3,700 head a year ago and 3,600 head during July 2003.

Declines in both out-of-state shipments and local marketings accounted for the 16% drop in marketings when compared with a year earlier.

Year-to-date marketings of 32,200 head were 2% below the same 8-month period in 2002.

In August, the number of cattle and calves shipped out-of-state totalled 2,200 head compared with 2,600 a year earlier and 2,500 during July. Cumulative out-of-state shipments during 2003 totalled 24,800 head, unchanged from the same period in 2002.

Commercial beef production (local slaughter) in August totalled 545,000 pounds, compared with 646,000 pounds a year earlier. Commercial kill for August hit 900 head, this amount is reported to be 200 lesser than the number a year ago. Average live weight per head, at 1,060 pounds, was 1% lighter than a year ago. Cumulative production for the first eight months of 2003 was 4.2 million pounds, which is 6% less than the same period in 2002.