News

New November highs for red meat, pork production

The USDA says red meat and pork production during November were all-time highs for the month.

Pork was reported at 2.428 billion pounds, up 3% on the year, with a 3% rise in the slaughter to 11.331 million head and a three pound gain in the average live weight at 288 pounds. Beef production was 2.297 billion pounds, down 1%, with a 1% decline in the slaughter to 2.774 million head cancelling out a five-pound gain for the average live weight at 1,375 pounds. Red meat production was 4.743 billion pounds, a 1% increase, with the year to date total of 50.284 billion pounds 3% ahead of 2018’s record pace.

The USDA says November’s dairy cow slaughter was 256,100 head, down 30,000 from October and 11,900 head less than in November 2018. The year to date slaughter is 2.959 million head, 67,000 ahead of last year.

December’s red meat production numbers are out January 23rd.