WASHINGTON – Total supplies of red meat and poultry in freezers increased in December, but continued to lag behind year-ago totals, according to the US Department of Agriculture's Cold Storage report.

On Dec. 31, 2014 total red meat supplies in freezers advanced 6 percent from November, but declined 4 percent from 2013.

Total pounds of beef in freezers jumped 11 percent compared to November and were slightly higher compared to a year ago. Beef stocks in all warehouses totaled 441,226,000 lbs. in December, USDA reported. Supplies of frozen veal climbed 1 percent to total 6,435,000 lbs. on Dec. 31, 2014.

Supplies of frozen pork gained 2 percent in December to total 497,133,000 lbs., but dropped 10 percent from year-ago totals, USDA reported. Stocks of pork bellies surged 37 percent to reach 46,476,000 lbs. for the month, but declined 42 percent from 2013.

USDA reported supplies of frozen poultry supplies on Dec. 31, 2014 climbed 2 percent from the previous month to 908,100,000 lbs. but slipped 3 percent from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken advanced 2 percent to 712,638,000 lbs., according to USDA. Frozen chicken supplies were 2 percent higher compared to a year ago.

Total pounds of turkey in freezers gained 3 percent to total 193,246,000 lbs. in December 2014, but fell 19 percent from Dec. 31, 2013.
 
USDA reported higher stocks of frozen lamb and mutton for December. Stocks in all warehouses totaled 33,825,000 lbs. for month, a 2 percent increase over November 2014.