Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri Apr 20, 2012          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, April 21, 2012 was estimated at 909.2 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 2.3 percent higher than a week ago and 0.7 percent lower
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
1.4 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)
  21-Apr-12       469.3          2.2        435.2         2.5     909.2
  14-Apr-12       456.8          2.2        426.9         2.8     888.7
   Change:          2.7%         0.0%         1.9%      -10.7%      2.3%
  23-Apr-11       488.4          2.4        420.9         3.5     915.2
   Change:         -3.9%        -8.3%         3.4%      -28.6%     -0.7%
  2012 YTD       7588.8         36.2       7124.8        45.3   14795.1
  2011 YTD       7879.5         40.5       7045.6        45.7   15011.3
   Change:         -3.7%       -10.6%         1.1%       -0.9%     -1.4%
(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
  21-Apr-12     598,000       13,000    2,084,000      34,000
  14-Apr-12     582,000       13,000    2,044,000      37,000
   Change:          2.7%         0.0%         2.0%       -8.1%
  23-Apr-11     645,000       14,000    2,028,000      49,000
   Change:         -7.3%        -7.1%         2.8%      -30.6%
  2012 YTD    9,070,000      210,000   32,022,000     559,000
  2011 YTD   10,232,000      256,000   33,842,000     631,000
   Change:        -11.4%       -18.0%        -5.4%      -11.4%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  21-Apr-12   Estimate          1298          282         279       150
  14-Apr-12   Estimate          1298          282         279       150
  23-Apr-11     Actual          1258          298         277       140
            Dressed:
  21-Apr-12   Estimate           787          168         209        75
  14-Apr-12   Estimate           787          168         209        75
  23-Apr-11     Actual           760          178         208        70
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  31-Mar-12       48.2%        30.8%        19.3%        1.7%
  02-Apr-11       49.2%        30.7%        18.3%        1.8%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  31-Mar-12       97.0%                      2.6%                  0.4%
  02-Apr-11       97.3%                      2.4%                  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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