Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri Feb 10, 2012          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, February 11, 2012 was estimated at 919.3 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 0.7 percent higher than a week ago and 3.2 percent lower
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
2.5 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)
  11-Feb-12       470.2          2.3        443.9         2.9     919.3
  04-Feb-12       461.4          2.4        446.6         2.7     913.1
   Change:          1.9%        -4.2%        -0.6%        7.4%      0.7%
  12-Feb-11       496.7          2.6        447.4         2.5     949.2
   Change:         -5.3%       -11.5%        -0.8%       16.0%     -3.2%
  2012 YTD       2825.8         13.8       2696.1        16.1    5551.8
  2011 YTD       2981.2         15.0       2680.7        15.2    5692.1
   Change:         -5.2%        -8.0%         0.6%        5.9%     -2.5%
(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
  11-Feb-12     602,000       15,000    2,130,000      38,000
  04-Feb-12     592,000       16,000    2,137,000      36,000
   Change:          1.7%        -6.3%        -0.3%        5.6%
  12-Feb-11     639,000       17,000    2,150,000      36,000
   Change:         -5.8%       -11.8%        -0.9%        5.6%
  2012 YTD    3,621,000       91,000   12,919,000     213,000
  2011 YTD    3,829,000      101,000   12,863,000     214,000
   Change:         -5.4%        -9.9%         0.4%       -0.5%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  11-Feb-12   Estimate          1303          260         278       152
  04-Feb-12   Estimate          1302          255         279       150
  12-Feb-11     Actual          1293          263         278       143
            Dressed:
  11-Feb-12   Estimate           783          154         209        76
  04-Feb-12   Estimate           781          151         209        75
  12-Feb-11     Actual           780          156         208        71
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  28-Jan-12       48.4%        29.0%        20.9%        1.6%
  29-Jan-11       46.9%        31.3%        20.2%        1.6%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  28-Jan-12       97.3%                      2.4%                  0.3%
  29-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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