Pennsylvania's commercial red meat production up 7% year-over-year to 105 million lbs. in February, USDA says; beef output up 11% to 101.7 million lbs.; pork production up 1% to 57.6 million lbs.

Andrew Rogers

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania , March 23, 2012 (press release) – Commercial red meat production in Pennsylvania during February 2012 totaled 105.0 million pounds, dressed weight basis, up 7 percent from February 2011, according to the Pennsylvania Field Office of USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Beef production, at 101.7 million pounds live weight, was up 11 percent from February 2011. Total head slaughtered was 82,800, up 7,800 head from last year. Average live weight increased 1pound to 1,233 pounds. Veal production was 3.6 million pounds live weight, down 4 percent from a year ago. Calf slaughter, at 8,300 head, was down 500 head, but average live weight increased 8 pounds to 428 pounds. Pork production, at 57.6 million pounds live weight, was up 1 percent from a year earlier. Total head slaughtered was 221,800, up 5,700 head from February 2011. Average live weight was 260 pounds, down 3 pounds from February of last year. Lamb and mutton production was 296,000 pounds live weight, up 55 percent from a year ago. The number slaughtered was 2,900, up 1,000 head from February of last year. The average live weight increased 2 pounds from February 2011 to 101 pounds.

Nationally, commercial red meat production for February totaled 3.91 billion pounds, dressed weight basis, up 3 percent from the 3.81 billion pounds produced in February 2011. Beef production, dressed weight basis, at 2.01 billion pounds, was 1 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.56 million head, down 2 percent from February 2011. The average live weight was up 21 pounds from the previous year, at 1,307 pounds. Veal production, at 9.8 million pounds, was 6 percent below February a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 60,200 head, down 13 percent from February 2011. The average live weight was 12 pounds above last year, at 276 pounds. Pork production totaled 1.88 billion pounds, up 6 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 9.04 million head, up 6 percent from February 2011. The average live weight was 1 pound above the previous year, at 278 pounds. Lamb and mutton production, at 12.3 million pounds, was up 13 percent from February 2011. Sheep slaughtered totaled 165,400 head, 7 percent above last year. The average live weight was 149 pounds, up 8 pounds from February a year ago.

January-February 2012 commercial red meat production was 8.04 billion pounds, up 2 percent from 2011. Accumulated beef production was down slightly from last year, veal was down 5 percent, pork was up 6 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was up 10 percent.

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