WASHINGTON – Stocks of poultry and red meat in freezers declined compared to year-ago levels, according to the US Department of Agriculture's Cold Storage report. But stocks of frozen pork bellies soared.

Red meat supplies in freezers on June 30, 2014 totaled 929,972,000 lbs., down 5 percent from May 31, 2014 and 13 percent compared to June 30, 2013.


Total pounds of beef in freezers declined 5 percent from the previous month to 357,759,000 lbs. Stocks of beef fell 26 percent from the June 30, 2013 total of 481,090,000 lbs.

Frozen pork supplies were down 7 percent from the previous month to 537,717,000 lbs., and down 5 percent compared to 2013. Stocks of pork bellies slipped 2 percent from the May total, but jumped 100 percent to 84,036,000 lbs. Total stocks of pork bellies were 42,033,000 lbs. on June 30, 2013, according to USDA.

Total frozen poultry supplies on June 30, 2014 were 1.019 billion lbs., down 2 percent from the previous month and down 18 percent from the year-ago total of 1.25 billion lbs. on June 30, 2013.

Total stocks of chicken were 556,830,000 lbs., down 9 percent from May and down 18 percent from the comparable year-ago period. Total pounds of turkey in freezers were 460,414,000 lbs., up 9 percent from May but down 19 percent from June 30, 2013.