Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri Jan 20, 2012          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, January 21, 2012 was estimated at 956.2 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 1.5 percent lower than a week ago and 0.0 percent higher
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
2 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)
  21-Jan-12       488.5          2.5        462.6         2.6     956.2
  14-Jan-12       506.2          2.5        459.1         2.7     970.5
   Change:         -3.5%         0.0%         0.8%       -3.7%     -1.5%
  22-Jan-11       498.8          2.6        451.9         2.5     955.8
   Change:         -2.1%        -3.8%         2.4%        4.0%      0.0%
  2012 YTD       1431.5          7.1       1354.3         7.7    2800.6
  2011 YTD       1489.7          7.6       1351.7         7.6    2856.6
   Change:         -3.9%        -6.6%         0.2%        1.3%     -2.0%
(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
  21-Jan-12     628,000       17,000    2,221,000      37,000
  14-Jan-12     653,000       17,000    2,212,000      39,000
   Change:         -3.8%         0.0%         0.4%       -5.1%
  22-Jan-11     639,000       17,000    2,168,000      35,000
   Change:         -1.7%         0.0%         2.4%        5.7%
  2012 YTD    1,842,000       48,000    6,497,000     108,000
  2011 YTD    1,910,000       51,000    6,469,000     108,000
   Change:         -3.6%        -6.1%         0.4%        0.1%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  21-Jan-12   Estimate          1303          250         278       144
  14-Jan-12   Estimate          1300          252         278       142
  22-Jan-11     Actual          1307          264         278       141
            Dressed:
  21-Jan-12   Estimate           780          148         209        72
  14-Jan-12   Estimate           777          149         208        71
  22-Jan-11     Actual           784          156         209        71
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  07-Jan-12       49.1%        27.5%        21.9%        1.6%
  08-Jan-11       47.7%        29.2%        21.5%        1.5%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  07-Jan-12       97.2%                      2.5%                  0.3%
  08-Jan-11       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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