Red Meat Production Up 3 Percent From Last Year

August 2015 contained 21 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 5 Saturdays.

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 3.90 billion pounds in August, up 3 percent from the 3.79 billion pounds produced in August 2014.

Beef production, at 1.93 billion pounds, was 4 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.32 million head, down 7 percent from August 2014. The average live weight was up 34 pounds from the previous year, at 1,363 pounds.

Veal production totaled 6.5 million pounds, 9 percent below August a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 34,500 head, down 21 percent from August 2014. The average live weight was up 41 pounds from last year, at 318 pounds.

Pork production totaled 1.95 billion pounds, up 11 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 9.35 million head, up 13 percent from August 2014. The average live weight was down 4 pounds from the previous year, at 278 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 11.7 million pounds, was up slightly from August 2014. Sheep slaughter totaled 175,100 head, 3 percent below last year. The average live weight was 134 pounds, up 5 pounds from August a year ago.

January to August 2015 commercial red meat production was 31.7 billion pounds, up 2 percent from 2014. Accumulated beef production was down 4 percent from last year, veal was down 17 percent, pork was up 8 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 4 percent.

Source: USDA