Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri Jan 13, 2012          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, January 14, 2012 was estimated at 970.5 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 12.1 percent higher than a week ago and 3.1 percent higher
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
3.4 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)
  14-Jan-12       506.2          2.5        459.1         2.7     970.5
  07-Jan-12       433.2          2.2        427.9         2.4     865.7
   Change:         16.9%        13.6%         7.3%       12.5%     12.1%
  15-Jan-11       491.8          2.5        444.6         2.5     941.4
   Change:          2.9%         0.0%         3.3%        8.0%      3.1%
  2012 YTD        939.4          4.7        887.0         5.1    1836.2
  2011 YTD        990.9          5.0        899.8         5.1    1900.8
   Change:         -5.2%        -6.0%        -1.4%        0.0%     -3.4%
(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
  14-Jan-12     653,000       17,000    2,212,000      39,000
  07-Jan-12     560,000       15,000    2,063,000      34,000
   Change:         16.6%        13.3%         7.2%       14.7%
  15-Jan-11     631,000       17,000    2,127,000      36,000
   Change:          3.5%         0.0%         4.0%        8.3%
  2012 YTD    1,213,000       32,000    4,275,000      73,000
  2011 YTD    1,271,000       34,000    4,302,000      73,000
   Change:         -4.6%        -5.9%        -0.6%        0.0%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  14-Jan-12   Estimate          1300          252         278       142
  07-Jan-12   Estimate          1297          251         278       141
  15-Jan-11     Actual          1302          262         279       141
            Dressed:
  14-Jan-12   Estimate           777          149         208        71
  07-Jan-12   Estimate           776          148         207        71
  15-Jan-11     Actual           782          154         209        71
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  31-Dec-11       50.0%        27.5%        21.2%        1.3%
  01-Jan-11       48.0%        31.1%        19.7%        1.2%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  31-Dec-11       97.3%                      2.4%                  0.3%
  01-Jan-11       97.4%                      2.3%                  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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