SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri May 24, 2013          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, May 25, 2013 was estimated at 934.2 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 0.1 percent higher than a week ago and 0.2 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)
  25-May-13       504.0          2.0        425.4         2.8     934.2
  18-May-13       507.3          2.0        421.0         2.9     933.2
   Change:         -0.7%         0.0%         1.1%       -3.4%      0.1%
  26-May-12       498.8          2.3        428.6         3.0     932.7
   Change:          1.0%       -13.0%        -0.7%       -6.7%      0.2%
  2013 YTD       9942.3         43.9       9204.3        58.6   19249.1
  2012 YTD      10053.9         47.8       9300.5        60.1   19462.3
   Change:         -1.1%        -8.2%        -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
  25-May-13     648,000       13,000    2,054,000      40,000
  18-May-13     652,000       13,000    2,030,000      41,000
   Change:         -0.6%         0.0%         1.2%       -2.4%
  26-May-12     640,000       13,000    2,070,000      38,000
   Change:          1.3%         0.0%        -0.8%        5.3%
  2013 YTD   12,640,000      293,000   44,376,000     822,000
  2012 YTD   12,858,000      289,000   44,594,000     794,000
   Change:         -1.7%         1.4%        -0.5%        3.5%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  25-May-13   Estimate          1291          263         277       138
  18-May-13   Estimate          1293          268         277       139
  26-May-12     Actual          1282          291         277       156
            Dressed:
  25-May-13   Estimate           779          155         207        69
  18-May-13   Estimate           780          158         208        70
  26-May-12     Actual           781          174         207        78
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  11-May-13       51.7%        26.8%        19.7%        1.8%
  12-May-12       52.2%        28.0%        18.1%        1.7%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  11-May-13       96.8%                      2.8%                  0.3%
  12-May-12       97.0%                      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