Commercial Red Meat Production Up 7 Percent From Last Year
November 2014 contained 20 weekdays (including 2 holidays) and 5 Saturdays.
November 2015 contained 21 weekdays (including 2 holidays) and 4 Saturdays.
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.03 billion pounds in November, up 7 percent from the 3.76 billion pounds produced in November 2014.
Beef production, at 1.93 billion pounds, was 5 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.29 million head, up 2 percent from November 2014. The average live weight was up 30 pounds from the previous year, at 1,393 pounds.
Veal production totaled 7.1 million pounds, 9 percent above November a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 38,800 head, up 8 percent from November 2014. The average live weight was up 4 pounds from last year, at 310 pounds.
Pork production totaled 2.08 billion pounds, up 10 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 9.76 million head, up 11 percent from November 2014. The average live weight was down 1 pound from the previous year, at 285 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 11.8 million pounds, was up 3 percent from November 2014. Sheep slaughter totaled 181,100 head, 5 percent above last year. The average live weight was 130 pounds, down 3 pounds from November a year ago.
January to November 2015 commercial red meat production was 44.1 billion pounds, up 2 percent from 2014. Accumulated beef production was down 3 percent from last year, veal was down 13 percent, pork was up 8 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 4 percent.
Source: USDA