Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri May 25, 2012          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, May 26, 2012 was estimated at 929.2 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 1.5 percent lower than a week ago and 0.8 percent lower
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
0.7 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)
  26-May-12       492.4          2.3        431.6         2.9     929.2
  19-May-12       496.4          2.3        441.3         2.9     942.9
   Change:         -0.8%         0.0%        -2.2%        0.0%     -1.5%
  28-May-11       511.7          2.3        420.0         2.8     936.8
   Change:         -3.8%         0.0%         2.8%        3.6%     -0.8%
  2012 YTD      10041.8         47.9       9304.4        60.0   19454.1
  2011 YTD      10353.8         51.9       9119.6        59.9   19585.2
   Change:         -3.0%        -7.7%         2.0%        0.2%     -0.7%
(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
  26-May-12     636,000       13,000    2,069,000      37,000
  19-May-12     641,000       13,000    2,113,000      37,000
   Change:         -0.8%         0.0%        -2.1%        0.0%
  28-May-11     674,000       14,000    2,045,000      39,000
   Change:         -5.6%        -7.1%         1.2%       -5.1%
  2012 YTD   12,851,000      288,000   44,589,000     793,000
  2011 YTD   13,501,000      324,000   43,876,000     826,000
   Change:         -4.8%       -11.2%         1.6%       -4.0%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  26-May-12   Estimate          1279          301         278       158
  19-May-12   Estimate          1281          301         279       159
  28-May-11     Actual          1255          286         275       145
            Dressed:
  26-May-12   Estimate           776          181         209        79
  19-May-12   Estimate           776          180         209        79
  28-May-11     Actual           762          170         206        72
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  12-May-12       52.2%        28.0%        18.1%        1.7%
  14-May-11       51.9%        27.7%        18.6%        1.8%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  12-May-12       97.0%                      2.7%                  0.3%
  14-May-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

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