Source:   Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 4/21/11

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.35 billion pounds in March, up 2 percent from March 2010, according to USDA’s Livestock Slaughter report.

The report noted that the average live weight for cattle was up 3 pounds from a year ago, while the average live weight for hogs was up 6 pounds from last March. Heavier hogs pushed pork production up 1 percent from a year ago even as hog slaughter was down 2 percent from last March.  

Beef and veal
Beef production, at 2.27 billion pounds, was 2 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.96 million head, up 2 percent from March 2010. The average live weight was up 3 pounds from the previous year, at 1,276 pounds.
Veal production totaled 12.1 million pounds, 1 percent below March a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 72,900 head, down 9 percent from March 2010. The average live weight was up 24 pounds from last year, at 283 pounds.

Pork
Pork production totaled 2.05 billion pounds, up 1 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 9.87 million head, down 2 percent from March 2010. The average live weight was up 6 pounds from the previous year, at 278 pounds.

Lamb
Lamb and mutton production, at 14.1 million pounds, was down 20 percent from March 2010. Sheep slaughter totaled 193,900 head, 26 percent below last year. The average live weight was 146 pounds, up 11 pounds from March a year ago.
January to March 2011 commercial red meat production was 12.2 billion pounds, up 2 percent from 2010. Accumulated beef production was up 3 percent from last year, veal was down 3 percent, pork was up 2 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 16 percent.

March contained 23 weekdays (including no holidays) and 4 Saturdays, unchanged from a year ago.

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