News

Record red meat, pork production in October

 

The USDA says commercial red meat and pork production during October 2017 were new all-time monthly record highs.

Pork production was up 5% on the year at 2.316 billion pounds because of ample market ready numbers and an increased slaughter capacity, the kill increased 5% to 10.998 million head, while the average live weight held at 282 pounds, and beef totaled 2.301 billion with a 6% year to year rise in the monthly slaughter to 2.799 million head cancelling out a 20 pound loss in the average live weight to 1,361 pounds.

Veal production was down 3% at 6.4 million pounds on a 9% decrease in the kill cancelling out at 14 pound rise in the average live weight, while lamb and mutton was up 2% at 11.9 million pounds following a 1% increase in the slaughter and a 1 pound gain for the average live weight.

For the first 10 months of 2017, cumulative red meat production is 43.018 billion pounds, 4% ahead of 2016’s record pace.