WASHINGTON — Total commercial red meat production in the United States in July 2012 was 3,944.5 million lbs, down 2% from a month earlier but up 4% from July 2012, the U.S.D.A. said in its latest Livestock Slaughter report.

July beef production was 2,200.8 million lbs, down 2% from June but up 3% from July 2011. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.79 million head, up 1% from the previous year. The average live weight of cattle at slaughter was 1,295 lbs, up 23 lbs from July 2011.

Pork production was 1,721.8 million lbs, down 2% from June but up 5% from July 2011, the U.S.D.A. said. Commercial hog slaughter totaled 8.57 million head, up 5% from the previous July. The average live weight of slaughter hogs was 269 lbs, up 1 lb from a year earlier.

Veal production was 9.5 million lbs, up 6% from June but down 6% from July 2011. The average weight of calves at slaughter was 241 lbs, down 4 lbs from last year.

January – July 2012 commercial red meat production was 28,215.4 million lbs, up 1% from the same period of the previous year, the U.S.D.A. said. January – July beef production was 14,958 million lbs, down 1% from 2011, while pork production was 13,098.4 million lbs, up 3% from a year earlier.