News

January red meat production up 6% on year

U.S. red meat production had a hot start to 2017.

The January 2017 total was up 6% on the year at 4.291 billion pounds.

Beef climbed 8% to 2.118 pounds, with a 9% increase in slaughter to 2.576 million head cancelling out an 11 pound decline in the average live weight to 1,370 pounds.

Pork was 3% higher at 2.155 billion pounds, with the kill up 4% at 10.126 million head and the average live weight down a pound at 284 pounds.

Veal production during January was a new monthly low at 6.3 million pounds.

The USDA’s red meat production numbers for February are out March 23rd.