US hits all-time monthly record high for red meat production

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.63 billion pounds in August, up 4 percent from the 4.43 billion pounds produced in August 2016, according to the USDA’s NASS Livestock Slaughter report released Sept. 21. Beef production, at 2.40 billion pounds, was 6 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.94 million head, up 7 percent from August 2016. The average live weight was down 7 pounds from the previous year, at 1,345 pounds. January to August 2017 commercial red meat production was 34.0 billion pounds, up 4 percent from 2016. Accumulated beef production was up 5 percent from last year, veal was down 1 percent, pork was up 3 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 4 percent. Read more…