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


           DECEMBER MEAT PRODUCTION DOWN FROM LAST YEAR


SIOUX FALLS, January 20, 2006 -- Commercial red meat production
for South Dakota totaled 97.0 million pounds during December.  
This was down 1 percent from one year ago but up 4 percent from 
last month.  For December 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 457,100 head 
during December 2005 compared to 463,800 head the year before.  
Average live weight was 265 pounds, which was up 3 pounds from 
December 2004.

Commercial sheep and lamb slaughter for South Dakota totaled 
1,000 head during December 2005 compared to 1,200 head a year 
earlier.  Average live weight was 129 pounds, which was up 8 
pounds from December 2004.

Commercial slaughter data for cattle is not published.

                 Access this complete report at:
http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/nassr/livestock/pls-bb/2006/lstk0106.pdf