September Red Meat
28% Above Last Year

WASHINGTON —(USDA)— Total red meat supplies in freezers on September 30 were five percent above August 31 and 28 percent above September 2001.

Beef supplies in freezers on September 30 were up seven percent from a year ago at 494.9 million pounds, boneless beef up nine percent at 442.3 million pounds, and beef cuts down five percent at 52.59 million pounds.

Frozen pork was up three percent at 478.1 million pounds, hams up eight percent at 151.2 million pounds, bellies down 34 percent at 9.3 million pounds, loins down four percent at 13.56 million pounds, and ribs up five percent at 54.34 million pounds.

Veal supplies were up 19 percent at 4.4 million pounds, lamb and mutton supplies down 18 percent at 11.88 million pounds.

Total frozen poultry supplies on September 30, at 1.51 billion pounds, were slightly below last month but 28 percent above last year's level. Total stocks of chicken were 33 percent above last year at 831.9 million pounds, turkey was up 24 percent at 672 million pounds and duck up one percent at 7.7 million pounds.