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WASHINGTON —(USDA)— Red meat production in the United States totaled 46.8 billion pounds in 2003, 1.2 percent below the previous year's record high. Red meat production in commercial plants totaled 46.6 billion pounds, on-farm production 136 million pounds. Beef production, at 26.3 billion pounds, was three percent less than last year’s record high. Veal production was down two percent at 201.1 million pounds and set a new record low. Pork production, at 20 billion pounds, was two percent above 2002 and set a new record high. Lamb and mutton production fell nine percent at 203.4 million pounds and set a new record low. Commercial cattle slaughter during 2003 was down one percent at 35.5 million head, with federal inspection comprising 98.3 percent of the total. The average liveweight was down 20 pounds at 1231 pounds. Steers comprised 49.2 percent of the total federally inspected slaughter, heifers 31.7 percent, dairy cows eight percent, other cows 9.1 percent, and bulls 1.8 percent. Commercial calf slaughter was down four percent at one million head, with 97.5 percent under federal inspection. The average liveweight was up six pounds at 318 pounds. Commercial hog slaughter was up one percent at 100.9 million head, with 98.8 percent slaughtered under federal inspection. The average liveweight was up one pound at 266 pounds. Barrows and gilts comprised 96.5 percent of the federally inspected slaughter. Commercial sheep and lamb slaughter was down nine percent at 2.98 million head, with 94.2 percent under federal inspection. The average liveweight was up one pound at 134 pounds. There were slightly more than 850 slaughtering plants under federal inspection on January 1, compared with 879 the previous year; 689 slaughtered at least one head of cattle during 2003 with 15 accounting for more than 56 percent of the total cattle killed. Hogs were slaughtered at 662 plants, with 13 accounting for 58 percent of the total. Eight of the 290 plants that slaughtered calves accounted for 57 percent of the total, and four of the 505 plants that slaughtered sheep or lambs comprised 69 percent of the total head count. Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and Texas accounted for more than 52 percent of United States commercial red meat production in 2003, similar to 2002. |
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