Record monthly red meat production in September

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Record monthly red meat production in September

The USDA says red meat production was record large in September, led by all-time monthly highs for beef and pork.

Total production was 4.706 billion pounds, up 6% from September 2019, with beef at 2.355 billion pounds, 8% higher following a 5% rise in slaughter to 2.813 million head and 27 pound gain in the average live weight to 1,379 pounds, and pork at 2.336 billion pounds, 4% more than last year after a 4% increase in the slaughter to 11.027 million head and 3 pound gain for the average live weight at 285 pounds.

September’s dairy cow slaughter was 249,900 head, up almost 24,600 from August, but down 5,700 from September 2019. The year to date slaughter is 2.301 million head, 116,000 behind last year’s pace.

For the year to date, red meat production is 41.032 billion pounds, 1% ahead of 2019’s record pace, with cumulative beef production slightly lower and pork production 3% higher.

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