News
October red meat production falls 7%
The USDA says commercial red meat production during October was 4.755 billion pounds, a drop of 7% on the year.
Beef production was 2.366 billion pounds, 4% lower, with a 3% decline in slaughter to 2.584 million and nine pound loss for the average live weight at 1,376 pounds.
October’s dairy cow slaughter was 256,200 head, 8,400 less than in September and 2.8 million under October 2020. The year-to-date slaughter is 2.593 million head, 32,600 more than this time last year.
Pork was reported at 2.373 billion pounds, 9% below last year, due to an 8% lower move in slaughter to 11.084 million head and three pound loss for the average live weight to 288 pounds.
For the year to date, red meat production is 46.214 billion pounds, slightly ahead of the year ago pace, with a 3% rise in beef cancelling out a 2% decrease for pork.
The USDA’s next set of annual red meat production projections is out December 9th.
