USDA’s cold storage update for December shows total red meat and poultry supplies below a year ago, while cheese and egg stocks were up on the year.
The total amount of red meat in cold storage as of the end of December was 927.938 million pounds, down 14% from a year ago due to good export demand with beef 13% below last year at 429.715 million pounds and pork decreasing 15% to 474.845 million pounds. Boneless beef made up most of that total at 372.418 million pounds, a 10% year to year decline, while the closely watched pork belly stocks were up 12% from a year ago at 57.594 million pounds.
Poultry stocks totaled 884.912 million pounds, down 24% on the year, including an 18% decline in chicken and a mostly seasonal 37% drop in turkey.
Cheese stocks came out at 966.911 million pounds, up 13% on increased production, with butter 12% above a year ago at 133.663 million pounds.
Egg stocks were up 8% on the year at 24.347 million pounds.
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