SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri Feb 03, 2012          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, February 04, 2012 was estimated at 910.8 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 2.3 percent lower than a week ago and 1.0 percent lower
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
2.2 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)
  04-Feb-12       459.1          2.4        446.6         2.7     910.8
  28-Jan-12       473.6          2.6        453.0         2.8     932.0
   Change:         -3.1%        -7.7%        -1.4%       -3.6%     -2.3%
  05-Feb-11       487.2          2.5        427.9         2.6     920.2
   Change:         -5.8%        -4.0%         4.4%        3.8%     -1.0%
  2012 YTD       2355.8         11.7       2257.5        13.1    4638.1
  2011 YTD       2484.5         12.4       2233.3        12.7    4742.9
   Change:         -5.2%        -5.7%         1.1%        3.2%     -2.2%
(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
  04-Feb-12     589,000       16,000    2,137,000      36,000
  28-Jan-12     608,000       17,000    2,167,000      38,000
   Change:         -3.1%        -5.9%        -1.4%       -5.3%
  05-Feb-11     627,000       17,000    2,059,000      36,000
   Change:         -6.1%        -5.9%         3.8%        0.0%
  2012 YTD    3,023,000       78,000   10,803,000     175,000
  2011 YTD    3,190,000       84,000   10,713,000     178,000
   Change:         -5.2%        -7.1%         0.8%       -1.9%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  04-Feb-12   Estimate          1302          255         279       150
  28-Jan-12   Estimate          1304          255         279       148
  05-Feb-11     Actual          1291          262         277       142
            Dressed:
  04-Feb-12   Estimate           781          151         209        75
  28-Jan-12   Estimate           781          151         209        74
  05-Feb-11     Actual           780          155         208        72
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  21-Jan-12       47.2%        29.7%        21.5%        1.6%
  22-Jan-11       49.4%        28.6%        20.4%        1.6%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  21-Jan-12       97.1%                      2.6%                  0.3%
  22-Jan-11       97.1%                      2.6%                  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

1300C