Total commercial red meat production in the United States during December 2012 was 3,996.5 million lbs, down 7% from November and down 5% from December 2011, the U.S.D.A. said in its latest Livestock Slaughter report.
Pork production was 1,953.5 million lbs, down 6% from November and down 5% from December 2011. Commercial hog slaughter totaled 9.47 million head, down 5% from the previous year. The average live weight of slaughter hogs was 276 lbs, down 2 lbs from the previous year.
December beef production was 2,020.4 million lbs, down 8% from November and down 5% from December 2011. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.54 million head, down 8% from December 2011. The average live weight of cattle at slaughter was 1,323 lbs, up 26 lbs from December 2011.
Veal production was 9.8 million lbs, down 3% from November and down 9% from December 2011. The average live weight of calves at slaughter was 254 lbs, up 1 lb from the previous year.
January–December 2012 commercial red meat production was 49,436.4 million lbs, up slightly from 49,231.7 million lbs during the previous year. January–December beef production was 25,912.2 million lbs, down 1% from 2011, while pork production was 23,250 million lbs, up 2% from the previous year.
