U.S. Red Meat Production at Record High in 2006

Wyoming: Commercial red meat production in Wyoming during 2006 totaled 6.2 million pounds, down 5 percent from the 6.5 million pounds in 2005, according to Vito Wagner with the Wyoming Field Office of USDA NASS. Commercial red meat production excludes animals slaughtered on farms.

A total of 7,000 cattle were slaughtered in 2006, down 600 head from 2005. Total liveweight, at 8.34 million pounds, was 8 percent below last year. The average liveweight of cattle slaughtered was 1,187 pounds, down 2 pounds from 2005.

In 2006, 4,900 hogs and pigs were processed, compared with 5,300 in 2005. Total liveweight of hogs slaughtered was 1.31 million pounds, 5 percent below last year. The average liveweight of 265 pounds was up 6 pounds from 2005.

A total of 1,600 sheep and lambs were processed in 2006, down 100 head from last year. Total liveweight, at 216,000 pounds, was 6 percent below 2005. The average liveweight of sheep and lambs slaughtered at 136 pounds was 1 pound heavier than last year.

United States: Total red meat production for the United States totaled 47.7 billion pounds in 2006, 4 percent higher than the previous year. Red meat includes beef, veal, pork, and lamb and mutton. Red meat production in commercial plants totaled 47.5 billion pounds. On farm production totaled 139 million pounds.

Beef production totaled 26.3 billion pounds, up 6 percent from the previous year. Veal production totaled 155 million pounds, down 6 percent from last year. Pork production, at 21.1 billion pounds, was 2 percent above the previous year. Lamb and mutton production totaled 190 million pounds, down 1 percent from 2005.

Commercial cattle slaughter during 2006 totaled 33.7 million head, up 4 percent from 2005, with federal inspection comprising 98 percent of the total. The average live weight was 1,275 pounds, up 19 pounds from a year ago. Steers comprised 53 percent of the total federally inspected cattle slaughter, heifers 30 percent, dairy cows 7 percent, other cows 9 percent, and bulls 1 percent.

Commercial calf slaughter totaled 711,300 head, 3 percent lower than a year ago with 98.2 percent under federal inspection. The average live weight was 345 pounds, down 8 pounds from a year earlier.

Commercial hog slaughter totaled 104.7 million head, 1 percent higher than 2005 with 99.0 percent of the hogs slaughtered under federal inspection. The average live weight was unchanged from last year, at 269 pounds. Barrows and gilts comprised 97 percent of the total federally inspected hog slaughter.

Commercial sheep and lamb slaughter, at 2.70 million head, was up slightly from the previous year with 94.4 percent comprised by federal inspection. The average live weight was down 1 pound from 2005 to 137 pounds. Lambs and yearlings comprised 95 percent of the total federally inspected sheep slaughter.