February Red Meat,
Pork Set Records

WASHINGTON —(USDA)— Commercial red meat production for the United States in February was up two percent from a year ago at 3.54 billion pounds, slightly higher than the previous record high for February set in 1996.

February had the same number of work days as a year ago.

Beef production was up one percent at two billion pounds. Cattle slaughter was down one percent at 2.72 million head, average liveweights up 17 pounds at 1221 pounds.

Veal production was down 19 percent at 17 million pounds, 19 percent below the previous record low for February set a year ago. Calf slaughter was down 12 percent at 100,000 head, average liveweights down 22 pounds at 286 pounds.

Pork production was up three percent at 1.5 billion pounds, three percent above the previous record high for February set last year. Hog kill was up three percent at 7.9

million head, average liveweights up one pound at 259 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production was down four percent at 20 million pounds, four percent below the previous record low for February seen in 1979, 1997, and 1998. Sheep and lamb slaughter was down three percent at 299,000 head, average liveweights down two pounds at 135 pounds.

January-February red meat production was up one percent from a year ago at 7.4 billion pounds. Accumulated beef

production was up one percent, veal down 23 percent, pork up one percent, and lamb and mutton down nine percent.