Beef, Pork, Red Meat
Reach Record Highs

WASHINGTON —(USDA)— Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 3.93 billion pounds in September, up three percent from September's previous

record high of 3.83 billion pounds produced in 1998.

September 1998 and 1999 both contained 22 weekdays, including one holiday and four Saturdays.

September beef production was up four percent at 2.28 billion pounds, just above the previous record high for September set in 1976. Cattle slaughter was up four percent at 3.1 million head. The average liveweight was down three pounds at 1210 pounds.

Veal production was down seven percent from last year’s record low for September at 20 million pounds. Calf slaughter was down 11 percent at 121,000 head. The average liveweight was up 12 pounds at 281 pounds.

Pork production was up two percent from the record September high set last year at 1.62 billion pounds. Hog kill was up one percent at 8.64 million head. The average liveweight was up two pounds at 255 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production was up two percent at 19 million pounds. Sheep and lamb slaughter totaled 307,000 head, slightly above last year. The average liveweight was up two pounds at 127 pounds.

The January through September red meat production was up three percent at 34.4 billion pounds. Accumulated

beef production was up three percent at 19.9 billion pounds, veal was down 12 percent at 167 million pounds, pork was up three percent at 14.2 billion pounds, and lamb and mutton were down four percent at 178 million pounds.

Commercial cattle slaughter for the first nine months of 1999 was up two percent at 27,246,000 head, calves down 12 percent at 962,500 head, hogs up two percent at 74,823,000 head, and sheep and lambs down four percent at 2,708,500 head.