Monthly record highs for US beef, pork, and red meat production
Commercial red meat production for the
September 2002 contained 21 weekdays (including one holiday) and 4 Saturdays.
September 2003 contained 22 weekdays (including one holiday) and 4 Saturdays.
Beef production, at 2.31 billion pounds and a monthly record high, was 5 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totalled 3.12 million head, up 9 percent from September 2002. The average live weight was down 36 pounds from the previous year, at 1,227 pounds.
Veal production totalled 15.4 million pounds, 6 percent below September a year ago. Calf slaughter totalled 82,600 head, down 7 percent from September 2002. The average live weight was 5 pounds above last year, at 308 pounds.
Pork production totalled 1.66 billion pounds, a monthly record high, up 2 percent from the previous year. Hog kill totalled 8.55 million head, 1 percent above September 2002. The average live weight was 3 pounds above the previous year, at 263 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 16.9 million pounds, was down 4 percent from September 2002. Sheep slaughter totalled 256,300 head, 7 percent below last year. The average live weight was 131 pounds, up 3 pounds from September a year ago.
January to September 2003 commercial red meat production was 35.0 billion pounds, down slightly from 2002. Accumulated beef production was down slightly from last year, veal was down 1 percent, pork was up slightly from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 9 percent.
