USDA
Beef production was up 4 percent and pork was up 2 percent over production one year ago.
 
WASHINGTON – Commercial red meat production for the United States in June was up 3 percent from production last year, according to a report from the US Dept. of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board. Production this year was 4.35 billion lbs., up from 4.23 billion lbs. in June 2016.

From January to June, commercial red meat production was 25.4 billion lbs., up 4 percent from 2016. Accumulated beef production was up 5 percent from 2016, veal was down 2 percent, pork was up 3 percent, and lamb and mutton production was down 5 percent from 2016.

On the beef side, production was 4 percent above 2016, now at 2.28 billion lbs. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.86 million head, up 6 percent from June 2016. However, average live weight was down 13 lbs. from the previous year, at 1,321 lbs.

Pork production was up 2 percent from 2016 to 2.05 billion lbs. Hog slaughter totaled 9.87 million head, up 3 percent from June 2016. Average live weight was at 279 lbs., down 1 lb. from the previous year.

Veal production totaled 6.3 million lbs., 1 percent below June a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 40,400 head, up 7 percent from June 2016. The average live weight was down 23 lbs. from last year, at 268 lbs.

At 12.4 million lbs., lamb and mutton production went down 7 percent from June 2016. Sheep slaughter totaled 188,000 head, 4 percent below last year. The average live weight went down 4 lbs. to 132 lbs. from one year ago.