SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri May 18, 2018          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, May 19, 2018 was estimated at 1033.5 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 1.6 percent higher than a week ago and 7.4 percent higher
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
3.6 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)
  19-May-18       526.5          1.4        502.9         2.7    1033.5
  12-May-18       517.0          1.4        495.9         2.6    1016.9
   Change:          1.8%         0.0%         1.4%        3.8%      1.6%
  20-May-17       481.9          1.4        476.4         2.3     962.0
   Change:          9.3%         0.0%         5.6%       17.4%      7.4%
  2018 YTD       9940.5         27.8      10140.0        54.7   20163.0
  2017 YTD       9604.9         27.8       9783.4        51.8   19467.9
   Change:          3.5%         0.0%         3.6%        5.6%      3.6%
(1)Previous week estimates may be revised. Year ago data are actuals.
(2) Excludes lard.      (3) Totals may not add due to rounding.
2018 totals are subject to revision
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Livestock Slaughter (head)
Week Ending   Cattle    Calves/Vealer      Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  19-May-18     660,000       10,000    2,348,000      38,000
  12-May-18     645,000       10,000    2,313,000      35,000
   Change:          2.3%         0.0%         1.5%        8.6%
  20-May-17     612,000        9,000    2,264,000      34,000
   Change:          7.8%        11.1%         3.7%       11.8%
  2018 YTD   12,193,000      202,000   47,356,000     757,000
  2017 YTD   11,859,000      194,000   46,055,000     740,000
   Change:          2.8%         4.1%         2.8%        2.3%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  19-May-18   Estimate          1326          243         286       144
  12-May-18   Estimate          1333          241         287       146
  20-May-17     Actual          1307          280         282       137
            Dressed:
  19-May-18   Estimate           799          142         214        72
  12-May-18   Estimate           803          141         214        73
  20-May-17     Actual           789          165         210        69
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  05-May-18       54.4%        25.9%        17.9%        1.8%
  06-May-17       54.3%        26.5%        17.4%        1.8%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  05-May-18       97.2%                      2.5%                  0.3%
  06-May-17       97.1%                      2.5%                  0.3%

*2017 slaughter totals adjusted to reflect NASS revisions
Source:  USDA Livestock, Poultry, and Grain Market News Division, St Joseph, MO
         816-676-7000   e-mail:  stjoe.lpgmn@ams.usda.gov
         www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/SJ_LS710.txt
         www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/livestock-poultry-grain

1300C