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April pork production notches new monthly high

 

The USDA says pork production during April 2018 was a new monthly high at 2.142 billion pounds, up 8% from April 2017. New monthly highs have been set several times in recent months because of the biggest domestic inventory on record and increased slaughter capacity, along with mostly steady to heavier average live weights. For April, the total kill was 9.993 million head, 7% above a year ago, with an average live weight of 287 pounds, 2 pounds heavier.

Beef production was also above 8% a year ago at 2.116 billion pounds, with the pace supported by a bigger market ready inventory and a heavier than a year ago live weight. April’s slaughter was 2.638 million head, a 7% increase, with an average live weight of 1,334 pounds, 10 pounds heavier than last year.

So far this year, U.S. commercial red meat production is 17.443 billion pounds, 4% ahead of last year’s record pace.