Robert Pore's Ag Blog

August was a meaty month for Nebraska, according to a livestock slaughter report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday.

Commercial red meat production in Nebraska during August was 664.3 million pounds, which was up 1 percent from a year before and 9 percent more than July.
Behind Nebraska as the nation’s leading red meat producer was Kansas and Iowa, respectively.

Nationwide, commercial red meat production totaled 4.24 billion pounds in August, up 4 percent from the 4.10 billion pounds produced in August 2005.

Beef production, nationwide, at 2.44 billion pounds, was 5 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 3.13 million head, up 5 percent from August 2005.
The average live weight was up nine pounds from the previous year, at 1,275 pounds.

In Nebraska, 664,000 head of cattle was slaughtered compared to 633,200 head in August 2005. Nebraska was second in the nation in cattle slaughter behind Kansas.
Nationwide, pork production totaled 1.77 billion pounds, up 1 percent from the previous year.

Hog kill totaled 9.09 million head, nationwide, 1 percent above August 2005. The average live weight was 1 pound above the previous year, at 263 pounds.

Nebraska saw the number of hogs slaughtered during August climb to 658,600 head compared to 634,500 head a year before. The average liveweight was 263 pounds both in August of 2005 and 2006.

Nebraska was sixth in the nation in hog slaughter behind Iowa, North Carolina, Illinois, Minnesota, and Indiana.

Nationwide, lamb and mutton production, at 14.6 million pounds, was down 5 percent from August 2005.

Sheep slaughter totaled 227,000 head, 1 percent below last year. The average live weight was 129 pounds, down 5 pounds from August a year ago.

Veal production totaled 14.2 million pounds, 4 percent above August a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 66,700 head, up 2 percent from August 2005. The average live weight was unchanged last year, at 347 pounds.

January to August 2006 commercial red meat production was 31.3 billion pounds, up 4 percent from 2005.

Accumulated beef production was up 7 percent from last year, veal was down 3 percent, pork was up 2 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was up 1 percent.