U.S. red meat production shot higher in April.
The USDA says commercial red meat production to start the second quarter of 2024 was 4.636 billion pounds, 10% more than last year.
That big increase followed faster cattle and hog slaughter paces, along with heavier average cattle weights. Beef production was 2.303 billion pounds, 11% higher, with a slaughter of 2.729 million head, up 7%, and an average weight of 1,395 pounds, a gain of 41, while pork production was 2.317 billion pounds, up 9%, with a slaughter of 10.749 million head, an increase of 10%, and an average weight of 290 pounds, down 1.
