Red Meat Production Up 7 Percent From Last Year
March 2014 contained 21 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 5 Saturdays.
March 2015 contained 22 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 4 Saturdays.
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.06 billion
pounds in March, up 7 percent from the 3.81 billion pounds produced in March
2014.
Beef production, at 1.93 billion pounds, was slightly below the previous
year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.38 million head, down 3 percent from March
2014. The average live weight was up 30 pounds from the previous year, at
1,348 pounds.
Veal production totaled 6.9 million pounds, 21 percent below March a year
ago. Calf slaughter totaled 39,700 head, down 26 percent from March 2014. The
average live weight was up 18 pounds from last year, at 295 pounds.
Pork production totaled 2.11 billion pounds, up 14 percent from the previous
year. Hog slaughter totaled 9.89 million head, up 14 percent from March 2014.
The average live weight was unchanged from the previous year, at 285 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 14.3 million pounds, was up 8 percent from
March 2014. Sheep slaughter totaled 204,600 head, 8 percent above last year.
The average live weight was 140 pounds, up 1 pound from March a year ago.
January to March 2015 commercial red meat production was 11.9 billion pounds,
up 1 percent from 2014. Accumulated beef production was down 3 percent from
last year, veal was down 24 percent, pork was up 7 percent from last year,
and lamb and mutton production was up 1 percent.
Source: USDA