Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri Apr 27, 2012          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, April 28, 2012 was estimated at 917.3 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 1.1 percent higher than a week ago and 4.3 percent higher
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
1.1 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)
  28-Apr-12       475.9          2.2        436.8         2.4     917.3
  21-Apr-12       467.5          2.2        435.2         2.4     907.3
   Change:          1.8%         0.0%         0.4%        0.0%      1.1%
  30-Apr-11       468.4          2.1        406.1         2.8     879.4
   Change:          1.6%         4.8%         7.6%      -14.3%      4.3%
  2012 YTD       8073.5         38.3       7563.7        47.8   15723.3
  2011 YTD       8349.6         42.5       7458.9        48.3   15899.3
   Change:         -3.3%        -9.9%         1.4%       -1.0%     -1.1%
(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
  28-Apr-12     611,000       13,000    2,092,000      35,000
  21-Apr-12     598,000       13,000    2,084,000      34,000
   Change:          2.2%         0.0%         0.4%        2.9%
  30-Apr-11     621,000       13,000    1,955,000      37,000
   Change:         -1.6%         0.0%         7.0%       -5.4%
  2012 YTD   10,301,000      236,000   36,246,000     645,000
  2011 YTD   10,857,000      268,000   35,829,000     671,000
   Change:         -5.1%       -12.1%         1.2%       -3.8%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  28-Apr-12   Estimate          1287          284         279       140
  21-Apr-12   Estimate          1292          282         279       144
  30-Apr-11     Actual          1256          284         278       153
            Dressed:
  28-Apr-12   Estimate           781          169         209        70
  21-Apr-12   Estimate           784          168         209        72
  30-Apr-11     Actual           757          169         208        77
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  14-Apr-12       47.6%        31.8%        18.9%        1.6%
  16-Apr-11       48.5%        29.8%        19.6%        2.0%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  14-Apr-12       97.0%                      2.7%                  0.3%
  16-Apr-11       96.8%                      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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