Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri Feb 24, 2012          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, February 25, 2012 was estimated at 911.4 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 2.5 percent lower than a week ago and 3.9 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)
  25-Feb-12       465.1          2.3        441.2         2.8     911.4
  18-Feb-12       482.8          2.3        447.3         2.6     935.0
   Change:         -3.7%         0.0%        -1.4%        7.7%     -2.5%
  26-Feb-11       503.7          2.7        439.1         2.6     948.1
   Change:         -7.7%       -14.8%         0.5%        7.7%     -3.9%
  2012 YTD       3777.9         18.2       3577.7        21.5    7395.3
  2011 YTD       3988.5         20.2       3555.3        20.5    7584.5
   Change:         -5.3%        -9.9%         0.6%        4.9%     -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
  25-Feb-12     592,000       15,000    2,120,000      37,000
  18-Feb-12     616,000       15,000    2,149,000      35,000
   Change:         -3.9%         0.0%        -1.3%        5.7%
  26-Feb-11     655,000       17,000    2,107,000      36,000
   Change:         -9.6%       -11.8%         0.6%        2.8%
  2012 YTD    4,825,000      119,000   17,165,000     284,000
  2011 YTD    5,138,000      135,000   17,064,000     288,000
   Change:         -6.1%       -11.9%         0.6%       -1.4%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  25-Feb-12   Estimate          1309          266         278       153
  18-Feb-12   Estimate          1306          260         278       152
  26-Feb-11     Actual          1285          271         278       145
            Dressed:
  25-Feb-12   Estimate           788          157         208        76
  18-Feb-12   Estimate           786          154         208        76
  26-Feb-11     Actual           772          161         209        72
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  11-Feb-12       46.1%        31.5%        20.7%        1.6%
  12-Feb-11       47.5%        32.5%        18.6%        1.4%

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