USDA: Pork production, hog slaughter drop 1%

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.22 billion pounds in June, up 1 percent from the 4.18 billion pounds produced in June 2010.

Pork production totaled 1.82 billion pounds, down 1 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 8.94 million head, down 1 percent from June 2010. The average live weight was up 2 pounds from the previous year, at 273 pounds.

Beef production, at 2.37 billion pounds, was 2 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 3.10 million head, up 2 percent from June 2010. The average live weight was up 1 pound from the previous year, at 1,262 pounds.

Veal production totaled 11.2 million pounds, 4 percent above June a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 72,500 head, up 6 percent from June 2010. The average live weight was down 3 pounds from last year, at 266 pounds.

January to June 2011 commercial red meat production was 24.2 billion pounds, up 1 percent from 2010. Accumulated beef production was up 1 percent from last year, veal was down 2 percent, pork was up 2 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 8 percent.

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