Health Law

Record Red Meat Production for June

By Dan Flynn and Suzanna Schreck

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.18 billion pounds in June 2010, up slightly from the 4.16 billion pounds produced in June 2009.

Meatingplace reported that beef production, at 2.32 billion pounds, was 1 percent above production for the previous year.  Cattle slaughter totaled 3.05 million head, up 2 percent from June 2009. The average live weight was down 8 pounds from the previous year, at 1,261 pounds.

Pork production totaled 1.83 billion pounds, down 1 percent from the previous year.  Hog kill totaled 9.04 million head, down 1 percent from June 2009. The average live weight was up 2 pounds from the previous year, at 271 pounds.

Veal production totaled 10.8 million pounds, 7 percent below June a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 68,600 head, down 11 percent from June 2009. The average live weight was up 18 pounds from last year, at 269 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 14.1 million pounds, was up 2 percent from June 2009. Sheep slaughter totaled 212,000 head, 5 percent above last year. The average live weight was 134 pounds, down 3 pounds from June a year ago.

January to June commercial red meat production was down 2 percent from 2009, at 23.9 billion pounds.

Full post as published by Food Safety News on July 28, 2010 (boomark / email).