Total red meat supplies in freezers Dec. 31, 2013, gained slightly for the month, but declined 2 percent compared to last year, the US Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service reported.
Total pounds of beef in freezers declined 3 percent from the previous month and dipped 6 percent from last year, while pork supplies climbed 2 percent from the previous month and 1 percent from last year, NASS said. Stocks of pork bellies jumped 67 percent from last month and 124 percent from last year.
Total frozen poultry supplies at the end of December declined 3 percent from the previous month and were down 6 percent compared to a year ago, according to NASS. Total stocks of chicken dropped 7 percent from the previous month and declined slightly from last year, while total pounds of turkey in freezers advanced 8 percent from last month but dropped 20 percent from Dec. 31, 2012.
