SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri Aug 17, 2018          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, August 18, 2018 was estimated at 1048.7 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 4.1 percent higher than a week ago and 4.0 percent higher
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
3.2 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)
  18-Aug-18       535.4          1.3        509.4         2.6    1048.7
  11-Aug-18       521.0          1.3        482.8         2.6    1007.7
   Change:          2.8%         0.0%         5.5%        0.0%      4.1%
  19-Aug-17       519.8          1.3        484.6         2.4    1008.1
   Change:          3.0%         0.0%         5.1%        8.3%      4.0%
  2018 YTD      16607.2         45.1      16172.0        88.7   32913.0
  2017 YTD      16088.7         45.3      15660.4        83.3   31877.7
   Change:          3.2%        -0.4%         3.3%        6.5%      3.2%
(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
  18-Aug-18     660,000       10,000    2,459,000      37,000
  11-Aug-18     645,000       10,000    2,333,000      38,000
   Change:          2.3%         0.0%         5.4%       -2.6%
  19-Aug-17     635,000       10,000    2,340,000      36,000
   Change:          3.9%         0.0%         5.1%        2.8%
  2018 YTD   20,487,000      338,000   76,315,000   1,245,000
  2017 YTD   19,912,000      311,000   74,343,000   1,210,000
   Change:          2.9%         8.6%         2.7%        2.9%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  18-Aug-18   Estimate          1335          221         277       139
  11-Aug-18   Estimate          1331          221         277       139
  19-Aug-17     Actual          1350          238         277       134
            Dressed:
  18-Aug-18   Estimate           813          129         207        70
  11-Aug-18   Estimate           809          129         207        70
  19-Aug-17     Actual           820          140         207        67
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  04-Aug-18       52.2%        57.7%        18.3%        1.7%
  05-Aug-17       54.0%        27.2%        17.0%        1.8%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  04-Aug-18       97.3%                      2.4%                  0.3%
  05-Aug-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