News

USDA: record pork production in March 2019

The USDA says pork production during March was a record high for the month.

Pork totaled 2.297 billion pounds, up slightly from the March 2018 record with a slightly higher slaughter at 10.724 million head and one-pound gain in the average live weight to 287 pounds. Beef was pegged at 2.118 billion pounds, down 4% on the year with a 2% decline in the monthly kill to 2.65 million head and a 19-pound loss for the average live weight at 1,339 pounds. Veal and lamb and mutton production were also below year ago levels, by 5% and 8%, respectively.

Commercial red meat production for March was 4.434 billion pounds, 2% lower than last year, with year to date production at 13.308 billion pounds, 1% ahead of 2018’s record pace.

Red meat production numbers for April are out May 23rd.