October 26, 2007

TOTAL RED MEAT PRODUCTION DOWN FROM PREVIOUS YEAR

Commercial red meat production in Wyoming during September 2007 totaled 500,000 pounds, according to Kim Faircloth with the Wyoming Field Office of USDA NASS. This was down 49 percent from last month and down 5 percent from September 2006. Commercial red meat production excludes animals slaughtered on farms.

Five hundred cattle were slaughtered in September, unchanged from last year. Total live weight was 588,000 pounds, down 2 percent from September 2006. Average live weight of cattle slaughtered was 1,197 pounds, up 15 pounds from last year.

A total of 400 hogs and pigs were processed, down 100 head from last September. Total live weight, at 122,000 pounds, was down 11 percent from September 2006. Average live weight of hogs slaughtered was 285 pounds, up 20 pounds from last year.

One hundred sheep and lambs were processed in September, down 100 head from last year. Total live weight, at 16,000 pounds, was down 36 percent from September 2006. Average live weight of sheep and lambs was 135 pounds, down 7 pounds from last year.

Red meat production from January to September 2007 totaled 5.0 million pounds, up 6 percent from the same period last year.

United States: Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 3.86 billion pounds in September, down 2 percent from the 3.95 billion pounds produced in September 2006.

Beef production, at 2.09 billion pounds, was 3 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.67 million head, down 4 percent from September 2006. The average live weight was up 5 pounds from the previous year, at 1,290 pounds.

Pork production totaled 1.75 billion pounds, down slightly from the previous year. Hog kill totaled 8.77 million head, down 1 percent from September 2006. The average live weight was unchanged from the previous year, at 266 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 13.6 million pounds, was down 5 percent from September 2006. Sheep slaughter totaled 210,600 head, 4 percent below last year. The average live weight was 129 pounds, unchanged from September a year ago.

January to September 2007 commercial red meat production was 35.7 billion pounds, up 1 percent from 2006. Accumulated beef production was up slightly from last year, veal was down 2 percent, pork was up 2 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 3 percent.