WASHINGTON – Commercial red meat production in the United States totaled 3.87 billion lbs. in July, a decline of 4 percent from the 4.04 billion lbs. produced a year ago, the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) of the US Dept. of Agriculture said in its Livestock Slaughter report.
Veal production dropped to a record all-time low, NASS reported. For the month, veal production dropped 19 percent to 5.6 million lbs. Calf slaughter climbed 3 percent to 37,700 head, while the average live weight was down 65 lbs. from last year, at 257 lbs.
Beef production eased 1 percent to 2.02 billion lbs. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.48 million head, down 1 percent from a year ago. The average live weight was down 1 lb. at 1.345 lbs.
NASS also reported an 8 percent decline in pork production, which totaled 1.82 billion lbs., in July. Hog slaughter was down 7 percent compared with a year ago to 8.76 million head, and the average live weight was down 2 lbs. to 278 lbs.
Lamb and mutton dropped 12 percent to 11.4 million lbs., according to NASS. Sheep slaughter totaled 170,100 head, down 10 percent from 2015. The average live weight was down 4 lbs. from the previous year, at 134 lbs.
Commercial red meat production from January to July was 28.3 billion lbs., 2 percent higher compared with 2015. Accumulated beef production was up 4 percent, veal production was down 9 percent; pork declined slightly from a year ago and lamb and mutton production slipped 1 percent.
July 2015 contained 23 weekdays, including one holiday and four Saturdays; while July 2016 contained 21 weekdays, including one holiday and five Saturdays.
