News
June pork production down 6% on year
The USDA says June 2021 red meat production was down 3% on the year at 4.669 billion pounds. That was due to a year-to-year decline in pork after June 2020 production hit a record high because of producers sending an increased number of hogs to slaughter following processing delays caused by COVID-19 infections in some plants.
Pork production was 2.254 billion pounds, down 6%, with a 5% lower move in the slaughter to 10.648 million head and a four pound loss in the average live weight at 284 pounds.
Beef was reported at 2.399 billion pounds, 1% higher, with a 3% rise in the slaughter to 2.953 million head cancelling out a 19 pound loss in the average live weight at 1,346 pounds.
The June 2021 dairy cow slaughter was 237,500 head, up 14,100 from May and 10,500 from June 2020. The year to date total is 1.563 million head, compared to 1.592 million during the first half of 2020.
Year to date red meat production is 27.908 billion pounds, 4% ahead of the year ago pace.
