Commercial red meat production for the United States totalled 3.40 billion pounds in February, down 3 percent from the 3.50 billion pounds produced in February 2003.

Beef production, at 1.80 billion pounds, was 7 percent below the previous year.  Cattle slaughter totalled 2.43 million head, down 6 percent from February 2003.  The average live weight was down 28 pounds from the previous year, at 1,233 pounds.

Share this story: