Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri Dec 28, 2012          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, December 29, 2012 was estimated at 746.1 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 24.9 percent lower than a week ago and 10.6 percent lower
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
0.1 percent higher compared to the previous year.

                        Meat Production (millions of pounds)
                             (excludes condemned)
Week Ending       Beef     Calf/Veal     Pork (2) Lamb/Mutton  Totals (3)
  29-Dec-12       379.1          1.6        363.2         2.2     746.1
  22-Dec-12       504.1          2.1        483.9         3.1     993.2
   Change:        -24.8%       -23.8%       -24.9%      -29.0%    -24.9%
  31-Dec-11       420.9          2.2        409.3         2.4     834.8
   Change:         -9.9%       -27.3%       -11.3%       -8.3%    -10.6%
  2012 YTD      25499.8        113.8      23011.7       146.9   48772.2
  2011 YTD      25845.5        126.3      22600.2       140.6   48712.6
   Change:         -1.3%        -9.9%         1.8%        4.5%      0.1%
(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
  29-Dec-12     476,000       11,000    1,755,000      32,000
  22-Dec-12     633,000       15,000    2,340,000      44,000
   Change:        -24.8%       -26.7%       -25.0%      -27.3%
  31-Dec-11     540,000       15,000    1,961,000      34,000
   Change:        -11.9%       -26.7%       -10.5%       -5.9%
  2012 YTD   32,338,000      751,000  111,873,000   2,002,000
  2011 YTD   33,543,000      839,000  109,962,000   2,000,000
   Change:         -3.6%       -10.5%         1.7%        0.1%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  29-Dec-12   Estimate          1327          245         277       140
  22-Dec-12   Estimate          1325          242         277       140
  31-Dec-11     Actual          1306          251         279       145
            Dressed:
  29-Dec-12   Estimate           798          144         207        70
  22-Dec-12   Estimate           798          143         207        70
  31-Dec-11     Actual           781          148         209        73
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  15-Dec-12       48.8%        27.2%        22.2%        1.8%
  17-Dec-11       46.9%        29.2%        22.1%        1.7%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  15-Dec-12       96.8%                      2.8%                  0.3%
  17-Dec-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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