U.S. red meat production got off to a slow start in 2021.
The USDA says commercial red meat production was down 3% from January 2020 at 4.802 billion pounds, with slower processing paces for beef and pork cancelling out heavier average live weights.
Beef came out at 2.309 billion pounds, 3% lower than last year, with a 5% decrease in the slaughter to 2.745 million head against a 24 pound gain in the average live weight at 1,399 pounds.
