US commercial red-meat production totaled 3.86 billion lbs. in June, down 4 percent from the 4.02 billion lbs. produced a year ago, according to the US Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
Beef production was 4 percent below the previous year at 2.17 billion lbs. Cattle slaughter declined 5 percent to 2.73 million head, NASS reported. The average live weight gained 17 lbs. from the previous year, at 1,307 lbs.
Veal production totaled 8.5 million lbs., which was 5 percent below June a year ago. Calf slaughter was up 3 percent to 57,600 head. The average live weight dropped 20 lbs. from a year ago, at 250 lbs.
Pork production reached 1.68 billion lbs., down 4 percent from the previous year, according to NASS. Hog slaughter totaled 8.20 million head, down 4 percent from June 2012. The average live weight was unchanged at 274 lbs.
Lamb and mutton production climbed 3 percent to 12.7 million lbs. Sheep slaughter totaled 183,500 head, 9 percent above June 2012. The average live weight was 139 lbs., down 8 lbs. from June a year ago.
January to June 2013 commercial red-meat production slipped 1 percent to 24.1 billion lbs., NASS reported. Accumulated beef production was down slightly compared to a year ago. Veal was down 7 percent, pork was down 1 percent from 2012 and lamb and mutton production climbed 1 percent.
