USA - Commercial red meat production down

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 3.87 billion pounds in April, down 4 percent from the 4.01 billion pounds produced in April 2010.

Pork production totaled 1.79 billion pounds, down 3 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 8.63 million head, down 5 percent from April 2010. The average live weight was up 4 pounds from the previous year, at 277 pounds.

January to April 2011 commercial red meat production was 16.1 billion pounds, up 1 percent from 2010. Accumulated beef production was up 1 percent from last year, veal was down 4 percent, pork was up 1 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 10 percent.