News

February red meat production up 1% on year

U.S. red meat production during February was up 1% on the year at 3.938 billion pounds.

Beef production was 3% higher at 1.934 billion pounds with a 3% increase in the slaughter to 2.369 million head cancelling out a 12 pound decrease in average weight to 1,360 pounds.

Pork production was 1% lower at 1.987 billion pounds, with the kill down 1% at 9.370 million head and average weight up a pound to 284 pounds.

Veal notched a new low for the month at 5.6 million pounds. The monthly slaughter was 40,200 head, 10% higher, but the average live weight was 241 pounds, a drop of 46.

So far this year, red meat production is 8.229 billion pounds, 3% ahead of the 2016 pace.