Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri Apr 06, 2012          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, April 07, 2012 was estimated at 939 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 1.8 percent higher than a week ago and 2.9 percent higher
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
1.2 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)
  07-Apr-12       490.3          2.2        443.7         2.8     939.0
  31-Mar-12       475.4          2.1        441.2         3.4     922.1
   Change:          3.1%         4.8%         0.6%      -17.6%      1.8%
  09-Apr-11       477.7          2.6        428.7         3.2     912.2
   Change:          2.6%       -15.4%         3.5%      -12.5%      2.9%
  2012 YTD       6690.0         31.5       6260.8        40.2   13022.5
  2011 YTD       6902.7         35.7       6203.8        38.7   13180.9
   Change:         -3.1%       -11.8%         0.9%        3.9%     -1.2%
(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
  07-Apr-12     622,000       13,000    2,124,000      37,000
  31-Mar-12     602,000       13,000    2,113,000      45,000
   Change:          3.3%         0.0%         0.5%      -17.8%
  09-Apr-11     630,000       15,000    2,063,000      43,000
   Change:         -1.3%       -13.3%         3.0%      -14.0%
  2012 YTD    8,511,000      197,000   30,005,000     528,000
  2011 YTD    8,942,000      229,000   29,785,000     532,000
   Change:         -4.8%       -13.8%         0.7%       -0.8%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  07-Apr-12   Estimate          1304          283         279       154
  31-Mar-12   Estimate          1308          280         279       155
  09-Apr-11     Actual          1262          297         277       148
            Dressed:
  07-Apr-12   Estimate           790          169         209        77
  31-Mar-12   Estimate           792          167         209        77
  09-Apr-11     Actual           761          177         208        74
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  24-Mar-12       48.2%        30.8%        19.2%        1.8%
  26-Mar-11       50.6%        28.8%        18.7%        1.9%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  24-Mar-12       97.1%                      2.6%                  0.3%
  26-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

1300C

1. Ag markets generally mixed again Tuesday morning
2. Will this summer be a repeat of 2012?
3. What do dairy exports mean for Minnesota?
4. Drop in U.S. underground water levels has accelerated
5. Farmland values: Not falling but not accelerating as fast
6. Seven jobs more dangerous than farming

1. 4 rules for growing a business or industry
2. D.C. Watch: Farm bill progressing
3. April milk production up 0.3 percent
4. Class III futures close out quietly last week
5. What are the drivers of profit in your dairy herd?
6. Seven jobs more dangerous than farming

1. Commentary: Slanting the statistics
2. World food supply depends on character, virtuous leadership
3. Buffet concerned about soil and starvation
4. Cold spring stunts upper Midwest hay crop
5. N.M. rancher charged with 43 counts of animal cruelty
6. 2014 Farm Bill: Are we near an agreement?