Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri May 11, 2012          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, May 12, 2012 was estimated at 937.2 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 1.7 percent higher than a week ago and 3.3 percent higher
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
0.8 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)
  12-May-12       495.6          2.3        436.5         2.8     937.2
  05-May-12       484.8          2.2        432.2         2.7     921.9
   Change:          2.2%         4.5%         1.0%        3.7%      1.7%
  14-May-11       493.2          2.2        409.1         2.9     907.4
   Change:          0.5%         4.5%         6.7%       -3.4%      3.3%
  2012 YTD       9050.6         43.2       8431.5        53.9   17579.2
  2011 YTD       9341.8         47.2       8280.2        54.1   17723.3
   Change:         -3.1%        -8.5%         1.8%       -0.4%     -0.8%
(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
  12-May-12     639,000       13,000    2,089,000      37,000
  05-May-12     623,000       13,000    2,069,000      38,000
   Change:          2.6%         0.0%         1.0%       -2.6%
  14-May-11     650,000       13,000    1,981,000      39,000
   Change:         -1.7%         0.0%         5.5%       -5.1%
  2012 YTD   11,567,000      263,000   40,397,000     720,000
  2011 YTD   12,166,000      296,000   39,799,000     748,000
   Change:         -4.9%       -11.1%         1.5%       -3.7%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  12-May-12   Estimate          1283          296         279       151
  05-May-12   Estimate          1286          289         279       145
  14-May-11     Actual          1256          290         276       149
            Dressed:
  12-May-12   Estimate           777          177         209        76
  05-May-12   Estimate           780          172         209        72
  14-May-11     Actual           761          174         207        75
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  28-Apr-12       51.2%        28.9%        18.1%        1.8%
  30-Apr-11       49.4%        29.1%        19.6%        1.9%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  28-Apr-12       97.0%                      2.8%                  0.3%
  30-Apr-11       96.7%                      2.9%                  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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