Commercial red meat production totaled 4.51 billion lbs. in October, a 2 percent decline from the 4.58 billion lbs. recorded in October 2012, the US Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reported.
Red meat production from January to October 2013 totaled 40.9 billion lbs., down 1 percent from the comparable year-ago period, NASS said. Accumulated beef production saw a slight decline from 2012, while veal production for the period was down 6 percent. Pork declined 1 percent from the comparable period a year ago, and lamb and mutton production saw a slight decline.
Beef production for October totaled 2.32 billion lbs., down 1 percent from a year ago. Cattle slaughter was down 2 percent to 2.90 million head, according to NASS. The average live weight increased 9 lbs. to 1,327 lbs.
Pork production eased 2 percent to 2.17 billion lbs. in October. Hog slaughter was down 4 percent to 10.42 million head, and the average live weight increased 4 lbs. to 278 lbs., NASS reported.
October lamb and mutton production declined 8 percent to 13.1 million lbs. compared to a year ago, according to NASS data. Sheep slaughter was slightly higher for October 2013 at 208,100 head. The average live weight was 126 lbs., down 11 lbs. from a year ago, according to NASS.
Veal production reached 10.0 million lbs. down 4 percent from October 2012. Calf slaughter declined 5 percent to reach 69,500 head. The average live weight was up 3 percent to 245 lbs.
