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April red meat production down 1%

The USDA reports red meat production during April 2016 was down 1% on the year at 3.983 billion pounds.

Beef production was up 2% at 1.964 billion pounds with a 1% increase in the slaughter to 2.409 million head and a 10 pound rise in the average live weight at 1,348 pounds per animal.

Pork production was 2% below a year ago at 2.000 billion pounds with a 3% decline in the kill to 9.366 million head and a 1 pound gain in the average live weight to 285 pounds.

Lamb, mutton, and veal production were new record lows for the month, at 12.8 million pounds and 6.4 million pounds, respectively.

2016 U.S. red meat production is 16.204 billion pounds, 2% ahead of 2015’s pace.