Heavy Dressed Weights Cause
Increased Red Meat Production

By Donald Stotts
Oklahoma State University

STILLWATER, Okla. — U.S. meat industry dressed weights could easily be record large for each major red meat species in 1998, predicts an Oklahoma State University agricultural economist.

Higher dressed weights caused U.S. red meat production to surge upward in relation to slaughter levels in recent months, says Derrell Peel, OSU Cooperative Extension livestock marketing specialist.

"Cattle, hogs and sheep have all posted heavier than year-earlier weights during the past several months," Peel notes.

Livestock Marketing Information Center data indicates that weekly average cattle dressed weights moved above year-ago levels in June 1997.

"The year-to-year weight difference has widened fairly consistently since that time," Peel says. "The most notable difference occurred in March, 1998, when cattle dressed weights averaged 37 pounds heavier than the same period in 1997."

Weekly average hog dressed weights have been above year-ago levels rather consistently since the 1980s, according to USDA and LMIC data.

In early 1998, hog dressed weights were significantly greater than 1997 figures. Then, in February, dressed weight declined to only one pound above the year-earlier figure.

"LMIC data shows that average hog dressed weight during March was equal to 1997 for the same time period," Peel says. "However, hog dressed weight for March of this year was about five pounds heavier than the previous five-year average for 1992 to 1996."

USDA statistics indicate weekly average sheep and lamb dressed weights were at the record high level of 70 pounds in May 1997. From the last week of July 1997, through mid-November of last year, weekly dressed weights declined to between 63 and 66 pounds on average. Since that time, dressed weights have remained heavy, averaging between 68 and 69 pounds.

"Overall, the U.S. red meat industry is looking at another year of heavy dressed weights, with the possibility of record numbers," Peel says.