Charleston, West Virginia – Commercial red meat production during April 2021 totaled 700,000 pounds. This was down 23% from April 2020. Commercial red meat production is the carcass weight after slaughter including beef, veal, pork, lamb and mutton. Individual commodity production is the total live weight of commercial slaughter.
Commercial cattle slaughter totaled 1,047,000 pounds live weight, down 27% from April 2020. Cattle slaughter totaled 900 head, down 400 head from the previous year. The average live weight was down 26 pounds from the previous year, at 1,103 pounds.
Commercial calf slaughter was not published to avoid disclosing individual operations.
Commercial hog slaughter totaled 134,000 pounds live weight, down 46% from last year. Hog slaughter totaled 400 head, down 400 head from the previous year. The average live weight was down 7 pounds from the previous year, at 313 pounds.
Commercial sheep and lamb slaughter was not published to avoid disclosing individual operations.
United States – Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.71 billion pounds in April, up 22% from the 3.86 billion pounds produced in April 2020.
Beef production, at 2.35 billion pounds, was 29% above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.85 million head, up 27% from April 2020. The average live weight was up 13 pounds from the previous year, at 1,366 pounds.
Veal production totaled 4.3 million pounds, 12% below April a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 27,400 head, down 18% from April 2020. The average live weight was up 16 pounds from last year, at 268 pounds.
Pork production totaled 2.34 billion pounds, up 15% from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.8 million head, up 15% from April 2020. The average live weight was up 1 pound from the previous year, at 290 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 13.6 million pounds, was up 22% from April 2020. Sheep slaughter totaled 222,800 head, 23% above last year. The average live weight was 122 pounds, down 1 pound from April a year ago.
January to April 2021 commercial red meat production was 18.9 billion pounds, up 4% from 2020. Accumulated beef production was up 6% from last year, veal was down 16%, pork was up 2% from last year, and lamb and mutton production were up 6%.
April 2020 contained 22 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 4 Saturdays.
April 2021 contained 22 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 4 Saturdays.
Note: Percent changes are based on unrounded data.
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