Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri Aug 17, 2012          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, August 18, 2012 was estimated at 947.5 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 3.0 percent higher than a week ago and 1.9 percent higher
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
0.3 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)
  18-Aug-12       507.9          2.0        434.8         2.8     947.5
  11-Aug-12       506.4          2.1        408.7         2.8     920.0
   Change:          0.3%        -4.8%         6.4%        0.0%      3.0%
  20-Aug-11       517.5          2.4        407.4         2.6     929.9
   Change:         -1.9%       -16.7%         6.7%        7.7%      1.9%
  2012 YTD      16093.4         72.4      14099.2        92.8   30357.8
  2011 YTD      16448.0         80.6      13842.0        90.5   30461.1
   Change:         -2.2%       -10.2%         1.9%        2.5%     -0.3%
(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
  18-Aug-12     643,000       15,000    2,166,000      40,000
  11-Aug-12     642,000       15,000    2,031,000      40,000
   Change:          0.2%         0.0%         6.6%        0.0%
  20-Aug-11     669,000       16,000    2,050,000      39,000
   Change:         -3.9%        -6.3%         5.7%        2.6%
  2012 YTD   20,514,000      457,000   68,259,000   1,241,000
  2011 YTD   21,409,000      524,000   67,320,000   1,271,000
   Change:         -4.2%       -12.8%         1.4%       -2.4%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  18-Aug-12   Estimate          1300          235         268       144
  11-Aug-12   Estimate          1298          239         269       142
  20-Aug-11     Actual          1273          250         266       135
            Dressed:
  18-Aug-12   Estimate           792          136         201        72
  11-Aug-12   Estimate           791          139         201        71
  20-Aug-11     Actual           776          147         199        68
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  04-Aug-12       51.7%        27.9%        18.8%        1.7%
  06-Aug-11       51.1%        27.6%        19.6%        1.7%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  04-Aug-12       96.6%                      3.1%                  0.4%
  06-Aug-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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