News

2016 red meat, pork production were new record highs

U.S. red meat production during 2016 was a new all-time high.

The USDA says production last year was 50.481 billion pounds, up 4% from 2015, including a new record high for pork at 24.957 billion and a 6% year to year increase for beef at 25.288 billion pounds.

For hogs, the commercial slaughter was 2% above the previous year at 118.220 million head, cancelling out a 1 pound decline in the average live weight to 282 pounds, and the beef kill was up 6% at 30.578 million head with a 3 pound increase in the average live weight to 1,363 pounds.

Through February, 2017 red meat production is 3% ahead of 2016’s pace, with the USDA’s slaughter numbers for March out Thursday at 3 PM Eastern/2 PM Central.