WASHINGTON — Total commercial red meat production in the United States in October 2012 was 4,578.6 million lbs, up 16% from a month earlier and up 7% from October 2011, the U.S.D.A. said in its latest Livestock Slaughter report.
Pork production was an October record high of 2,210.4 million lbs, up 16% from September and up 9% from October 2011, the U.S.D.A. said. Commercial hog slaughter totaled 10.86 million head, up 10% from the previous year. The average live weight of slaughter hogs was 274 lbs, down 1 lb from the previous year.
October beef production was 2,343.7 million lbs, up 16% from September and up 6% from October 2011. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.95 million head, up 3% from October 2011. The average live weight of cattle at slaughter was 1,318 lbs, up 29 lbs from October 2011.
Veal production was 10.3 million lbs, up 17% from September but down 2% from October 2011. The average live weight of calves at slaughter was 242 lbs, down 11 lbs from the previous year.
January – October 2012 commercial red meat production was 41,132.1 million lbs, up 1% from the same period of the previous year. January – October beef production was 21,685.2 million lbs, down 1% from 2011, while pork production was 19,217.8 lbs, up 3% from a year earlier.
