January Cold Storage
4% Above A Year Ago

WASHINGTON —(USDA)— Total U.S. red meat supplies in freezers on January 31, at 835.7 million pounds, were four percent above a year ago and up two percent from December 1998.

Beef supplies at 296.7 million pounds were slightly above a year ago but 10 percent below a month ago. Boneless beef was down 10 percent from last year at 262.4 million pounds, cuts down 12 percent at 34.3 million pounds.

Veal in storage was down 29 percent from a year ago at 4.9 million pounds and down 10 percent from last month.

Pork supplies at 517.8 million pounds were up 16 percent from last year and up three percent from last month. Hams at 78 million pounds were up 11 percent from last year and bellies at 82 million pounds were up 48 percent.

Lamb and mutton supplies on January 31 at 10.5 million pounds were down 24 percent from last year and down 10 percent from last month.