Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri Mar 02, 2012          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, March 03, 2012 was estimated at 941.7 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 3.3 percent higher than a week ago and 0.5 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)
  03-Mar-12       488.5          2.4        447.9         2.9     941.7
  25-Feb-12       465.1          2.3        441.2         2.8     911.4
   Change:          5.0%         4.3%         1.5%        3.6%      3.3%
  05-Mar-11       495.3          2.6        445.8         2.8     946.5
   Change:         -1.4%        -7.7%         0.5%        3.6%     -0.5%
  2012 YTD       4263.7         20.7       4026.7        24.5    8335.6
  2011 YTD       4483.8         22.8       4001.1        23.3    8531.0
   Change:         -4.9%        -9.2%         0.6%        5.2%     -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
  03-Mar-12     621,000       15,000    2,150,000      38,000
  25-Feb-12     592,000       15,000    2,120,000      37,000
   Change:          4.9%         0.0%         1.4%        2.7%
  05-Mar-11     645,000       17,000    2,139,000      38,000
   Change:         -3.7%       -11.8%         0.5%        0.0%
  2012 YTD    5,440,000      133,000   19,317,000     323,000
  2011 YTD    5,782,000      152,000   19,203,000     326,000
   Change:         -5.9%       -12.3%         0.6%       -0.8%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  03-Mar-12   Estimate          1309          271         278       151
  25-Feb-12   Estimate          1309          266         278       153
  05-Mar-11     Actual          1283          272         278       148
            Dressed:
  03-Mar-12   Estimate           788          160         209        76
  25-Feb-12   Estimate           788          157         208        76
  05-Mar-11     Actual           771          161         209        74
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  18-Feb-12       46.7%        32.3%        19.5%        1.5%
  19-Feb-11       47.3%        31.7%        19.3%        1.7%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  18-Feb-12       97.0%                      2.7%                  0.3%
  19-Feb-11       96.9%                      2.8%                  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. Nutrition group weighs in on aspartame in milk: It's not needed
2. Cold Storage report proves bearish for butter stocks
3. Ag markets diverged widely Wednesday afternoon
4. Commentary: Milk faces branding dilemma
5. Treating hypocalcemia routinely
6. Ongoing wave of Calif. metal theft prompts further legislation

1. 4 rules for growing a business or industry
2. Seven jobs more dangerous than farming
3. Chocolate milk a top post-workout food
4. What do dairy exports mean for Minnesota?
5. Commentary: Milk faces branding dilemma
6. Salma Hayek: Milk part of 'perfect' breakfast

1. Seven jobs more dangerous than farming
2. Buffet concerned about soil and starvation
3. 2014 Farm Bill: Are we near an agreement?
4. Farm bill and immigration reform action needed
5. Class III futures close out quietly last week