Red Meat In Storage
Similar To Year Ago

WASHINGTON —(USDA)— Total red meat supplies in freezers on August 31 were down two percent from July 31 and down slightly from August 1997. Beef stocks were down five percent from a year ago, pork up six percent and lamb and mutton down 25 percent.

Total frozen beef supplies were down five percent from a year ago at 307.4 million pounds, but up one percent from last month. Boneless stocks were down seven percent from a year ago at 274.8 million pounds, cuts up seven percent at 32.5 million pounds.

Frozen pork stocks were up six percent from a year ago at 392.9 million pounds, and down five percent from last month.

Lamb and mutton was down 25 percent from a year ago at 14.5 million pounds, and down 10 percent from a month ago.

Veal was down five percent from both a year ago and last month at 4.88 million pounds.

Total meat supplies at 729.3 million pounds were slightly less than a year ago and two percent below last month.

Total chickens in storage at 548 million pounds were down three percent from both last year and last month. Turkeys at 703.1 million pounds were down five percent from a year ago and slightly above last month.