Commercial Red Meat Production Up One Per Cent

US - Commercial red meat production is up one per cent, according to the latest livestock slaughter statistics from the US Department of Agriculture.

25 October 2011

2 minute read

North America

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.19 billion pounds in September, up one per cent from the 4.16 billion pounds produced in September 2010.

Beef production, at 2.22 billion pounds, was two per cent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.88 million head, down one per cent from September 2010. The average live weight was down 11 pounds from the previous year, at 1,278 pounds.

Veal production totaled 10.7 million pounds, five per cent below September a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 73,800 head, up four per cent from September 2010. The average live weight was down 22 pounds from last year, at 252 pounds.

Pork production totaled 1.95 billion pounds, up four per cent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 9.69 million head, up four per cent from September 2010. The average live weight was unchanged from the previous year, at 270 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 11.8 million pounds, was down 10 per cent from September 2010. Sheep slaughter totaled 177,000 head, 14 per cent below last year. The average live weight was 134 pounds, up five pounds from September a year ago.

January to September 2011 commercial red meat production was 36.5 billion pounds, up one per cent from 2010.

Accumulated beef production was up one per cent from last year, veal was down three per cent, pork was up two per cent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down eight per cent.