December Meat, Pork
Production Set Record

WASHINGTON —(USDA)— Commercial red meat production in December for the United States totaled 3.94 billion pounds, up six percent from the 3.71 billion pounds produced in December 1997 and up six percent from the previous record high for December set in 1994.

December 1998 held the same number of working days as a year ago.

Beef production, at 2.1 billion pounds, was four percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.9 million head, up one percent from 1997. The average liveweight was up 21 pounds from the previous year, at 1214 pounds.

Veal production totaled 22 million pounds, 17 percent below a year ago and eight percent below the previous record low for December set in 1973 and 1993. Calf slaughter at 130,000 head was down 10 percent from December 1997. The average liveweight was 22 pounds below last year, at

279 pounds.

Pork production at 1.8 billion pounds was up 10 percent from the previous year and 10 percent higher than the previous record high for December set in 1994. Hog kill at 9.43 million head was nine percent above 1997. The average liveweight was unchanged from the previous year at 260 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production at 23 million pounds was up one percent from December 1997. Sheep slaughter totaled 355,000 head, two percent above last year. The average liveweight was 132 pounds, down four pounds from December a year ago.

January through December red meat production was 45.1 billion pounds, four percent more than the comparable figure a year earlier. Accumulated beef production at 25.65 billion pounds was up one percent from last year, veal at 251 million pounds was down 22 percent, pork at 18.98 billion pounds was up 10 percent, and lamb and mutton at 248 million pounds was down three percent.

Commercial slaughter for 1998 included 35.47 million cattle, down two percent from 1997, average liveweights up 30 pounds at 1203 pounds; 1.456 million calves, down eight percent, liveweights down 52 pounds at 286 pounds; 101 million hogs, up 10 percent, liveweights unchanged at 256 pounds; and 3.8 million sheep and lambs, down three percent, liveweights down one pound at 132 pounds.