News
Red meat, poultry in cold storage down on year
The USDA says red meat supplies at the end of May 2021 were a little tighter than at the end of May 2020, while poultry stocks dropped. That’s due in part to export, consumer, and food service demand, with the USDA’s red meat and poultry production numbers not out until Thursday afternoon.
The total amount of red meat in cold storage on May 31st was 903.534 million pounds, 3% less than May 31st, 2020, with pork at 461.138 million pounds and beef at 414.047 million, both down 1% on the year.
The total for poultry was 1.126 billion pounds, a decrease of 12% from a year ago, with chicken at 730.327 million pounds, 15% lower, and turkey at 393.351 million pounds, a decline of 6%. The breakdown in chicken included a record monthly low for thigh meat, while the breakdown for turkey had record monthly lows for breasts and legs.
The USDA’s red meat and poultry production numbers for May are out Thursday at 3 Eastern/2 Central.
