May red meat, pork production largest for month on record

U.S. red meat production during May was record large for the month.

That included a monthly record for pork production at 2.271 billion pounds, a jump of 4% on the year with a 5% increase in the slaughter to 10.584 million head more than canceling out a two pound loss in the average live weight at 289 pounds.

Beef production was 2.306 billion pounds, 1% higher than May 2022 with the slaughter also up 1% to 2.84 million head partially because of some numbers being pulled ahead because drought in some of the major feeding areas against a two pound decline in the average live weight at 1,349 pounds.

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