From January to June, commercial red meat production was 25.4 billion lbs., up 4 percent from 2016. Accumulated beef production was up 5 percent from 2016, veal was down 2 percent, pork was up 3 percent, and lamb and mutton production was down 5 percent from 2016.
On the beef side, production was 4 percent above 2016, now at 2.28 billion lbs. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.86 million head, up 6 percent from June 2016. However, average live weight was down 13 lbs. from the previous year, at 1,321 lbs.
Pork production was up 2 percent from 2016 to 2.05 billion lbs. Hog slaughter totaled 9.87 million head, up 3 percent from June 2016. Average live weight was at 279 lbs., down 1 lb. from the previous year.
Veal production totaled 6.3 million lbs., 1 percent below June a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 40,400 head, up 7 percent from June 2016. The average live weight was down 23 lbs. from last year, at 268 lbs.
At 12.4 million lbs., lamb and mutton production went down 7 percent from June 2016. Sheep slaughter totaled 188,000 head, 4 percent below last year. The average live weight went down 4 lbs. to 132 lbs. from one year ago.
