Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri Jan 06, 2012          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, January 07, 2012 was estimated at 865.7 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 4.1 percent higher than a week ago and 9.8 percent lower
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
9.8 percent lower compared to the previous year.

                        Meat Production (millions of pounds)
                             (excludes condemned)
Week Ending       Beef     Calf/Veal     Pork (2) Lamb/Mutton  Totals (3)
  07-Jan-12       433.2          2.2        427.9         2.4     865.7
  31-Dec-11       417.6          2.0        409.8         2.4     831.8
   Change:          3.7%        10.0%         4.4%        0.0%      4.1%
  08-Jan-11       499.1          2.5        455.2         2.6     959.4
   Change:        -13.2%       -12.0%        -6.0%       -7.7%     -9.8%
  2012 YTD        433.2          2.2        427.9         2.4     865.7
  2011 YTD        499.1          2.5        455.2         2.6     959.4
   Change:        -13.2%       -12.0%        -6.0%       -7.7%     -9.8%
(1)Previous week estimates may be revised. Year ago data are actuals.
(2) Excludes lard.      (3) Totals may not add due to rounding.
2012 totals are subject to revision
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Livestock Slaughter (head)
Week Ending   Cattle    Calves/Vealers     Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  07-Jan-12     560,000       15,000    2,063,000      34,000
  31-Dec-11     539,000       14,000    1,967,000      34,000
   Change:          3.9%         7.1%         4.9%        0.0%
  08-Jan-11     640,000       17,000    2,175,000      37,000
   Change:        -12.5%       -11.8%        -5.1%       -8.1%
  2012 YTD      560,000       15,000    2,063,000      34,000
  2011 YTD      640,000       17,000    2,175,000      37,000
   Change:        -12.5%       -12.6%        -5.1%       -8.5%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  07-Jan-12   Estimate          1297          251         278       141
  31-Dec-11   Estimate          1299          249         279       142
  08-Jan-11     Actual          1311          253         279       140
            Dressed:
  07-Jan-12   Estimate           776          148         207        71
  31-Dec-11   Estimate           777          147         208        71
  08-Jan-11     Actual           784          149         210        70
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  24-Dec-11       49.1%        27.4%        21.9%        1.7%
  25-Dec-10       48.6%        29.7%        20.0%        1.7%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  24-Dec-11       97.2%                      2.5%                  0.3%
  25-Dec-10       97.1%                      2.6%                  0.3%

*2011 slaughter totals adjusted to reflect NASS revisions
Source: USDA Market News, St Joseph, MO
        816-676-7000    e-mail stjoe.lgmn@ams.usda.gov
        www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/SJ_LS712.txt
        www.ams.usda.gov/LSMarketNews

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