SD-CROP-LIVESTOCK

NEWS RELEASE
United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service
South Dakota Field Office, Sioux Falls, SD
 
Media contact South Dakota Office, 605/323-6500
Email:  nass-sd@nass.usda.gov


                 RED MEAT PRODUCTION DOWN FROM LAST YEAR


SIOUX FALLS, November 25, 2005 -- Commercial red meat production for South Dakota 
totaled 92.4 million pounds during October.  This was down 2 percent from one year ago but 
up 6 percent from last month.  October 2005 pork production and sheep and lamb production 
were down from one year ago, according to the South Dakota office of USDA’s National 
Agricultural Statistics Service.

Commercial hog slaughter for South Dakota totaled 444,400 head during October compared 
to 456,900 head last year.  Average live weight was 260 pounds, the same as October 2004.

Commercial sheep and lamb slaughter for South Dakota totaled 300 head during October 
compared to 1,200 head last year.  Average live weight was 117 pounds, which was down 2 
pounds from October 2004.

Commercial slaughter data for beef cattle is not published.

Access this complete report at:
http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/nassr/livestock/pls-bb/2005/lstk1105.pdf