The USDA says red meat and poultry supplies at the end of March were below year ago levels because of continued strong consumer and export demand.

The total for red meat was 969.310 million pounds, down 17% on the year, with beef at 483.650 million pounds, 3% lower, and pork at 451.756 million pounds, a drop of 27%, including a monthly low for bone-in hams.

The total for poultry was 1.094 billion pounds, 17% less than last year, with chicken at 740.325 million pounds, a decrease of 20%, and turkey at 350.438 million pounds, a decline of 10%.

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