LAKEWOOD, Colo. — Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.57 billion pounds in May, up 1 percent from the 4.50 billion pounds produced in May 2018.
Beef production, at 2.33 billion pounds, was 1 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.94 million head, up 1 percent from May 2018. The average live weight was unchanged from the previous year, at 1,316 pounds.
Veal production totaled 6.3 million pounds, 1 percent below May a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 46,200 head, down 1 percent from May 2018. The average live weight was down 2 pounds from last year, at 236 pounds.
Pork production totaled 2.22 billion pounds, up 2 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.4 million head, up 1 percent from May 2018. The average live weight was up 2 pounds from the previous year, at 287 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 13.4 million pounds, was down 2 percent from May 2018. Sheep slaughter totaled
209,200 head, 4 percent above last year. The average live weight was 128 pounds, down 8 pounds from May a year ago.
January to May 2019 commercial red meat production was 22.4 billion pounds, up 2 percent from 2018. Accumulated
beef production was up 1 percent from last year, veal was down 1 percent, pork was up 3 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was up 1 percent.
For a full copy of the Livestock Slaughterreport please visit www.nass.usda.gov. For state specific questions please contact:
Arizona – Dave DeWalt 1-800-645-7286
Colorado – William R. Meyer 1-800-392-3202
Montana – Eric Sommer 1-800-835-2612
New Mexico – Longino Bustillo 1-800-530-8810
Utah – John Hilton 1-800-747-8522
Wyoming – Rhonda Brandt 1-800-892-1660
— USDA, NASS, Mountain Regional Field Office
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