SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri May 17, 2013          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, May 18, 2013 was estimated at 934.2 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 0.5 percent higher than a week ago and 1.4 percent lower
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)
  18-May-13       507.3          2.0        422.1         2.8     934.2
  11-May-13       492.9          2.1        431.6         2.8     929.4
   Change:          2.9%        -4.8%        -2.2%        0.0%      0.5%
  19-May-12       502.1          2.2        440.4         2.9     947.6
   Change:          1.0%        -9.1%        -4.2%       -3.4%     -1.4%
  2013 YTD       9441.3         42.0       8780.6        55.7   18319.6
  2012 YTD       9555.1         45.5       8871.9        57.1   18529.6
   Change:         -1.2%        -7.7%        -1.0%       -2.5%     -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.
2013 totals are subject to revision
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Livestock Slaughter (head)
Week Ending   Cattle    Calves/Vealers     Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  18-May-13     652,000       13,000    2,035,000      40,000
  11-May-13     631,000       13,000    2,078,000      39,000
   Change:          3.3%         0.0%        -2.1%        2.6%
  19-May-12     644,000       13,000    2,117,000      37,000
   Change:          1.2%         0.0%        -3.9%        8.1%
  2013 YTD   11,994,000      280,000   42,321,000     780,000
  2012 YTD   12,218,000      276,000   42,524,000     756,000
   Change:         -1.8%         1.6%        -0.5%        3.2%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  18-May-13   Estimate          1293          268         277       139
  11-May-13   Estimate          1297          270         277       145
  19-May-12     Actual          1283          284         278       157
            Dressed:
  18-May-13   Estimate           780          158         208        70
  11-May-13   Estimate           783          159         208        72
  19-May-12     Actual           781          170         208        78
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  04-May-13       50.0%        27.9%        20.3%        1.8%
  05-May-12       51.1%        29.1%        18.2%        1.6%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  04-May-13       97.2%                      2.5%                  0.3%
  05-May-12       96.9%                      2.7%                  0.3%

*2012 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/LPSMarketNewsPage

1300C