SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri Apr 13, 2018          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, April 14, 2018 was estimated at 1008.4 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 0.1 percent higher than a week ago and 6.1 percent higher
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
3.1 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)
  14-Apr-18       493.5          1.4        510.8         2.7    1008.4
  07-Apr-18       502.9          1.4        500.3         2.6    1007.2
   Change:         -1.9%         0.0%         2.1%        3.8%      0.1%
  15-Apr-17       472.2          1.4        473.8         2.8     950.2
   Change:          4.5%         0.0%         7.8%       -3.6%      6.1%
  2018 YTD       7378.0         20.8       7621.6        41.1   15061.5
  2017 YTD       7171.0         20.7       7369.5        40.5   14601.7
   Change:          2.9%         0.5%         3.4%        1.5%      3.1%
(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
  14-Apr-18     605,000       10,000    2,385,000      38,000
  07-Apr-18     615,000       10,000    2,335,000      36,000
   Change:         -1.6%         0.0%         2.1%        5.6%
  15-Apr-17     589,000       10,000    2,227,000      46,000
   Change:          2.7%         0.0%         7.1%      -17.4%
  2018 YTD    8,975,000      152,000   35,610,000     567,000
  2017 YTD    8,781,000      149,000   34,659,000     576,000
   Change:          2.2%         1.8%         2.7%       -1.5%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  14-Apr-18   Estimate          1357          239         286       139
  07-Apr-18   Estimate          1360          236         286       145
  15-Apr-17     Actual          1328          250         285       120
            Dressed:
  14-Apr-18   Estimate           818          139         214        70
  07-Apr-18   Estimate           820          137         214        73
  15-Apr-17     Actual           803          147         213        60
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  31-Mar-18       51.7%        27.1%        19.5%        1.8%
  01-Apr-17       53.2%        26.8%        18.2%        1.8%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  31-Mar-18       97.4%                      2.3%                  0.2%
  01-Apr-17       97.2%                      2.6%                  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