Source:  Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 5/25/09

 

Commercial red meat production for the U.S. totaled 4.08 billion pounds in April, down 5 percent from the 4.30 billion pounds produced the same month a year earlier, according to USDA's monthly Livestock Slaughter report.

Beef production, at 2.13 billion pounds, was 5 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.77 million head, down 6 percent from April 2008. The average live weight was up 17 pounds from the previous year, at 1,276 pounds.
Pork production totaled 1.92 billion pounds, also down 5 percent from the previous year. Hog kill totaled 9.43 million head, down 6 percent from April 2008, and the average live weight was up 3 pounds from the previous year, at 272 pounds.

Meanwhile, veal production totaled 11.2 million pounds, 6 percent below April a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 68,000 head, down 7 percent from April 2008. The average live weight was up 3 pounds from last year, at 281 pounds.

For the first four months of 2009, commercial red meat production was 16.2 billion pounds, down 3 percent from 2008. Accumulated beef production was down 3 percent from last year, pork was down 4 percent, and veal was up 2 percent for the period.

The month of April in both years — 2008 and 2009 — included the same number of weekdays and Saturdays.

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