News

February red meat, pork production hit new record highs

 

U.S. red meat production during February 2018 hit a new all-time high at 4.059 billion pounds, up 3% from February 2017.

That total includes a new monthly record for pork at 2.058 billion pounds, with a 3% year to year increase for hog slaughter to 9.636 million head and a two pound gain in the average live weight, to 286 pounds.

Beef production was up 3% from last year at 1.983 billion pounds, with a 2% rise in slaughter to 2.417 million and eight pound gain for the average live weight to 1,368 pounds.

For the year to date, red meat production is 5% ahead of 2017’s record pace at 8.646 billion pounds.

The USDA says there was a record amount of red meat in cold storage at the end of February.