E-mail: nass-ny@nass.usda.gov (518) 457-5570 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Joe Morse Friday, March 13, 2009 www.nass.usda.gov/ny NEW YORK RED MEAT PRODUCTION UP 9 PERCENT Commercial red meat production in New York slaughter plants totaled 36.7 million pounds in 2008, according to Steve Ropel, Director of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, New York Field Office. This output is up 9 percent from the 33.6 million pounds produced in 2007, and up 5 percent from the 35.1 million pounds produced in 2006. The number of calves slaughtered in the State, at 221,500 head, was up 41 percent from 2007, and total pounds of veal produced were up 20 percent. Cattle slaughter in the Empire State totaled 28,900 head during 2008, up 5 percent from a year earlier, but 6 percent lower than 2006. Sheep and lamb slaughter totaled 38,000 head in 2008, down 7 percent from 2007, and 6 percent from 2006. New York establishments slaughtered 29,600 hogs during 2008, down 4 percent from the year earlier, and 18 percent lower than 2006. Total red meat production for the United States totaled 50.4 billion pounds in 2008, 3 percent higher than the previous year. Beef production totaled 26.7 billion pounds, up 1 percent from the previous year. Veal production totaled 152 million pounds, up 4 percent from last year. Pork production, at 23.4 billion pounds, was 6 percent above the previous year. Lamb and mutton production totaled 180 million pounds, down 5 percent from 2007. Nationally, commercial cattle slaughter during 2008 totaled 34.4 million head, up slightly from 2007. Commercial calf slaughter totaled 956,600 head, 26 percent higher than a year ago. Commercial hog slaughter totaled 116.5 million head, 7 percent higher than 2007. Commercial sheep and lamb slaughter, at 2.56 million head, was down 5 percent from the previous year. The information in this release is available by free email subscription by subscribing to New York reports at www.nass.usda.gov/ny. # 3-13-09