Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 3.62 billion pounds during August. This production was down 2 percent from the previous year.

August 1997 contained 21 weekdays and five Saturdays. August 1996 contained 22 weekdays and five Saturdays.

Beef production, at 2.22 billion pounds, was down 2 percent from the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 3.11 million head, down 3 percent from a year earlier. The average live weight was up 12 pounds from the previous year, at 1,187 pounds.

Veal production totaled 25.0 million pounds, down 20 percent from a year earlier. Calf slaughter totaled 125,500 head, down 20 percent from the previous year. The average live weight was down 2 pounds to 334 pounds.

Pork production, at 1.35 billion pounds, was down 3 percent from the previous year. Hog kill totaled 7.35 million head, down 4 percent from a year earlier. The average live weight was up 1 pound from the previous year at 251 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production totaled 19.0 million pounds, down 5 percent from the previous record low for August set in 1996. Sheep slaughter totaled 301,900 head, 9 percent below the previous year. The average live weight was up 5 pounds to 127 pounds.

January-August red meat production was 28.4 billion pounds, down 2 percent from the comparable figure a year earlier. Accumulated beef production was down 2 percent, veal was down 10 percent, pork was down 2 percent, and lamb and mutton was down 4 percent.

The USDA reported total commercial livestock slaughterings, with comparisons (1,000 head):

		Cattle 		Calves 		Hogs
Aug 96		 3,214.3	  157.8		 7,675.5
Jul 97		 3,183.4	  133.9		 7,309.3
Aug 97		 3,110.2	  125.5		 7,349.9 
Jan-Aug 96-X	24,923.6	1,154.4		60,868.3
Jan-Aug 97-X	24,506.6	1,026.9		58,805.3 

Note <197>Excludes slaughter on farms. Totals may not add due to rounding.
R<197>Revised.
X<197>Accumulated totals and percentages based on unrounded data.

USDA commercial meat production (million pounds):

		Beef 		Veal 		Pork 
Aug 96		 2,262		 32		 1,395 
Jul 97		 2,257		 27		 1,353
Aug 97		 2,223		 25		 1,352
Jan-Aug 96-X	17,403		242		11,228 
Jan-Aug 97-X	17,010		217		10,989 

Note<197>Based on packer's dressed weights and excludes farm slaughter.
R--Revised.
X<197>Accumulated totals based on unrounded data.

The Department detailed livestock slaughtered for periods listed under federal inspection, with comparisons (in 1,000 head):

Cattle-Y	Aug '96		Jul '97		Aug '97 
Steers		1,558		1,564		1,548
Heifers		  930		  994		  943 
All Cows	  591		  506		  498 
Dairy Cows	  254		  227		  230
Other Cows	  337		  279		  268 
Bulls, Stags 	   69 		   62 		   63 
Total-X		3,148		3,127		3,050



Hogs-Y		Aug '96		Jul '97		Aug '97 
Barrows, Gilts	7,169		6,856		6,899
Sows		  284		  264		  250 
Stags, Boars 	   57 		   50 		   49 
Total-X		7,509		7,170		7,198



Cattle-Y	Jan-Aug '96	Jan-Aug '97 
Steers		12,258		11,810 
Heifers		 7,073		 7,588
All Cows	 4,549		 4,135 
Dairy Cows	 1,975		 1,899 
Other Cows	 2,574		 2,236
Bulls, Stags 	   474 		   460 
Total-X		24,353		23,993 



Hogs-Y		Jan-Aug '96	Jan-Aug '97 
Barrows, Gilts	56,789		55,304
Sows		 2,391		 1,972 
Stags, Boars 	   466 		   397 
Total-X		59,646		57,672

R<197>Revised.
X<197>Totals may not add due to rounding.
Y<197>Species totals and classification reported by meat inspectors,
Inspection Operations, FSIS. September 26, 1997NASS, USDA

Statistics
MANUFACTURERS' SHIPMENTS INVENTORIES AND ORDERS
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE | DELIVERABLE GRAIN STOCKS
EXPORT INSPECTIONS | AUGUST 1997 NEW HOUSING SALES | U.S. GRAIN STOCKS 09/01
CONSUMER CONFIDENCE EDGES UP
NAPM REPORT ON BUSINESS | REDBOOK RETAIL AVERAGES
LEADING, COINCIDENT, AND LAGGING
PERSONAL INCOME AND OUTLAYS | AUGUST 1997 CONSTRUCTION
Consensus National Futures and Financial On Line Index

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