Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri Mar 16, 2012          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, March 17, 2012 was estimated at 947.3 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 0.0 percent higher than a week ago and 2.0 percent higher
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
1.6 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)
  17-Mar-12       488.3          2.4        453.3         3.3     947.3
  10-Mar-12       497.0          2.4        444.5         3.0     946.9
   Change:         -1.8%         0.0%         2.0%       10.0%      0.0%
  19-Mar-11       476.8          2.6        445.9         3.0     928.3
   Change:          2.4%        -7.7%         1.7%       10.0%      2.0%
  2012 YTD       5248.9         25.3       4927.4        30.9   10232.5
  2011 YTD       5451.4         27.8       4895.3        29.1   10403.6
   Change:         -3.7%        -9.0%         0.7%        6.2%     -1.6%
(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
  17-Mar-12     619,000       15,000    2,174,000      43,000
  10-Mar-12     631,000       15,000    2,132,000      40,000
   Change:         -1.9%         0.0%         2.0%        7.5%
  19-Mar-11     619,000       16,000    2,140,000      41,000
   Change:          0.0%        -6.3%         1.6%        4.9%
  2012 YTD    6,684,000      161,000   23,630,000     406,000
  2011 YTD    7,039,000      183,000   23,491,000     404,000
   Change:         -5.0%       -12.0%         0.6%        0.4%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  17-Mar-12   Estimate          1309          276         278       154
  10-Mar-12   Estimate          1309          275         278       152
  19-Mar-11     Actual          1281          285         278       148
            Dressed:
  17-Mar-12   Estimate           791          165         209        77
  10-Mar-12   Estimate           789          163         209        76
  19-Mar-11     Actual           773          171         209        74
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  03-Mar-12       47.5%        31.8%        19.2%        1.5%
  05-Mar-11       47.2%        31.8%        19.1%        1.8%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  03-Mar-12       97.1%                      2.6%                  0.3%
  05-Mar-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

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