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, April 21, 2006 -- Commercial red meat production 
for South Dakota totaled 81.9 million pounds during March.  
This was down 4 percent from one year ago and also from last 
month.  For March, pork production was down from one year ago, 
while sheep and lamb production was up, according to the South 
Dakota office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Commercial hog slaughter for South Dakota totaled 377,000 head 
during March compared to 402,500 head the year before.  Average 
live weight was 268 pounds, which was up 5 pounds from March 2005.

Commercial sheep and lamb slaughter for South Dakota totaled 
1,300 head during March compared to 1,000 head a year earlier.  
Average live weight was 128 pounds, which was up 6 pounds from 
March 2005.

Commercial slaughter data for cattle is not published.

Access this complete report at:
http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/nassr/livestock/pls-bb/2006/lstk0406.pdf