Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri Jan 27, 2012          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, January 28, 2012 was estimated at 932 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 2.5 percent lower than a week ago and 3.5 percent lower
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
2.3 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)
  28-Jan-12       473.6          2.6        453.0         2.8     932.0
  21-Jan-12       488.5          2.5        462.6         2.6     956.2
   Change:         -3.1%         4.0%        -2.1%        7.7%     -2.5%
  29-Jan-11       507.6          2.3        453.7         2.5     966.1
   Change:         -6.7%        13.0%        -0.2%       12.0%     -3.5%
  2012 YTD       1901.8          9.7       1811.3        10.5    3733.3
  2011 YTD       1997.3          9.9       1805.4        10.1    3822.7
   Change:         -4.8%        -2.0%         0.3%        4.0%     -2.3%
(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
  28-Jan-12     608,000       17,000    2,167,000      38,000
  21-Jan-12     628,000       17,000    2,221,000      37,000
   Change:         -3.2%         0.0%        -2.4%        2.7%
  29-Jan-11     654,000       16,000    2,185,000      35,000
   Change:         -7.0%         6.3%        -0.8%        8.6%
  2012 YTD    2,443,000       64,000    8,670,000     143,000
  2011 YTD    2,564,000       67,000    8,654,000     143,000
   Change:         -4.7%        -4.8%         0.2%        0.3%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  28-Jan-12   Estimate          1304          255         279       148
  21-Jan-12   Estimate          1303          250         278       144
  29-Jan-11     Actual          1298          246         277       144
            Dressed:
  28-Jan-12   Estimate           781          151         209        74
  21-Jan-12   Estimate           780          148         209        72
  29-Jan-11     Actual           779          146         208        72
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  14-Jan-12       47.0%        29.4%        21.9%        1.7%
  15-Jan-11       46.8%        31.2%        20.5%        1.6%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  14-Jan-12       97.0%                      2.7%                  0.3%
  15-Jan-11       97.0%                      2.7%                  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

1300C

1. Workshop to discuss nutrient application, management, stewardship
2. Help for flood affected farmers
3. Ag markets diverged significantly Friday afternoon
4. Vilsack: Food, Farm and Jobs Bill critical for U.S. producers
5. Ag markets decidedly mixed on Friday morning
6. Dairy among best snacks for diabetics

1. Beware of the soy milk after-taste face
2. Monsters love milk, too
3. Salma Hayek: Milk part of 'perfect' breakfast
4. What sick day? Farmers take just three a year
5. Activists at the door
6. IDFA: Opposition to Dairy Supply Management mounts

1. Analysis: Dairy Security Act better for farmers, taxpayers
2. IDFA: Opposition to Dairy Supply Management mounts
3. World food supply depends on character, virtuous leadership
4. Commentary: Slanting the statistics
5. Buffet concerned about soil and starvation
6. Cold spring stunts upper Midwest hay crop