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February red meat production down 1% on year

The USDA says February 2021 commercial red meat production was 4.387 billion pounds, 1% less than in February 2020. Part of the decline can be linked to a slowdown in livestock transportation and processing caused by Winter Storm Uri.

Beef production was 2.105 billion pounds, down 1%, with a 2% reduction in slaughter to 2.473 million head canceling out a 14-pound gain in the average live weight at 1,390 pounds. The dairy cow slaughter for February 2021 was 265,200 head, down 12.1 million from January and 9,000 from February 2020. The year-to-date slaughter is 542,500 head, 22,100 behind last year’s pace.

Pork production was 2.266 billion pounds, 2% lower, with a 3% decrease in processing to 10.378 million head against a 3 pound increase for the average live weight to 291 pounds.

Year to date commercial red meat production is 9.188 billion pounds, 2% slower than 2020’s record pace. The 2021 total includes a 2% reduction for both beef and pork.

The USDA’s next set of red meat production estimates is out April 9th.

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