SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri Mar 22, 2019          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, March 23, 2019 was estimated at 1051.4 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 3.9 percent higher than a week ago and 3.1 percent higher
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
0.6 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)
  23-Mar-19       508.9          1.5        538.0         3.0    1051.4
  16-Mar-19       482.8          1.5        525.4         2.4    1012.1
   Change:          5.4%         0.0%         2.4%       25.0%      3.9%
  24-Mar-18       498.8          1.3        516.1         3.2    1019.4
   Change:          2.0%        15.4%         4.2%       -6.3%      3.1%
  2019 YTD       5820.9         16.6       6261.6        30.0   12129.1
  2018 YTD       5900.7         16.7       6101.7        33.0   12052.1
   Change:         -1.4%        -0.6%         2.6%       -9.1%      0.6%
(1)Previous week estimates may be revised. Year ago data are actuals.
(2) Excludes lard.      (3) Totals may not add due to rounding.
2019 totals are subject to revision
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Livestock Slaughter (head)
Week Ending   Cattle    Calves/Vealer      Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  23-Mar-19     631,000       12,000    2,508,000      44,000
  16-Mar-19     597,000       12,000    2,447,000      35,000
   Change:          5.7%         0.0%         2.5%       25.7%
  24-Mar-18     611,000       10,000    2,410,000      44,000
   Change:          3.3%        20.0%         4.1%        0.0%
  2019 YTD    7,175,000      139,000   29,171,000     437,000
  2018 YTD    7,165,000      123,000   28,514,000     450,000
   Change:          0.1%        13.3%         2.3%       -3.0%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  23-Mar-19   Estimate          1348          216         287       140
  16-Mar-19   Estimate          1351          217         287       139
  24-Mar-18     Actual          1354          236         286       142
            Dressed:
  23-Mar-19   Estimate           808          125         215        70
  16-Mar-19   Estimate           810          125         215        70
  24-Mar-18     Actual           818          137         214        71
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  09-Mar-19       45.2%        32.1%        21.3%        1.4%
  10-Mar-18       50.0%        28.2%        20.1%        1.6%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  09-Mar-19       97.4%                      2.3%                  0.3%
  10-Mar-18       97.3%                      2.4%                  0.3%

*2018 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