Total red meat supplies in freezers on Dec. 31 were up about 4% from the previous month but down about 3% from last year, the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service said in its January Cold Storage report.
Total frozen poultry supplies on Dec. 31 were up about 2% from the previous month but down about 2% from a year ago.
BEEF STOCKS MIXED
Total pounds of beef in freezers were 437.458 billion pounds, up 11.912 billion pounds, or 2.80%, from 425.546 billion a month earlier but down 15.915 billion, or 3.51%, from 453.373 billion last year.
Of that, 397.795 billion pounds were classed as “boneless” beef, up 12.492 billion, or 3.24%, from 385.303 billion pounds in November but down 14.704 billion, or 3.56%, from 412.499 billion on Dec. 31, 2024.
Another 39.663 billion pounds was classed as “beef cuts,” down 580 million pounds, or 1.44%, from 40.243 billion a month earlier and down 1.211 billion, or 2.96%, from 40.874 billion a year earlier.
PORK STOCKS ALSO MIXED
Frozen pork supplies, at 390.555 billion pounds, were up 19.285 billion, or 5.19%, from 371.270 billion the previous month but down 5.954 billion, or 1.50%, from 396.509 billion last year.
Stocks of 36.896 billion pounds of pork bellies were up 15.637 billion, or 73.6%, from 21.259 billion last month and up 2.776 billion, or 8.14%, from 34.120 billion last year.
Total hams in cold storage were 67.264 billion pounds, down 4.580 billion, or 6.37%, from 71.844 billion a month earlier and down 1.059 billion, or 1.55%, from 68.323 billion a year earlier.
Frozen pork loin supplies were 31.917 billion pounds, down 179 million, or 0.56%, from 32.096 billion in November and down 2.910 billion, or 8.36%, from 34.827 billion in 2024.
Pork rib supplies in cold storage totaled 83.630 billion pounds, up 6.931 billion, or 9.04%, from 76.699 billion a month earlier and up 1.926 billion, or 2.36%, from 81.704 billion a year earlier.
CHICKEN STOCKS RISE
Total stocks of chicken, at 831.114 billion pounds, were up 16.195 billion, or 1.99%, from 814.919 billion the previous month and up 31.120 billion, or 3.89%, from 799.994 billion last year.
Of that, 245.942 billion pounds were breasts and breast meat, up 3.786 billion, or 1.56%, from 242.156 billion a month earlier and up 5.007 billion, or 2.08%, from 240.935 billion a year earlier.
Another 53.635 billion pounds were leg quarters, down 1.959 billion, or 3.52%, from 55.594 billion last month and down 10.074 billion, or 15,8%, from 63.709 billion last year.
Total pounds of turkey in freezers, at 165.016 billion pounds, were up from 159.121 billion last month but down from 218.866 billion, from Dec. 31, 2024.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
The USDA reported formula and contract base prices for live FOB steers and heifers this week ranged from $235.71 per cwt to $236.13, compared with last week’s range of $232.66 to $237.00 per cwt. FOB dressed steers and heifers went for $369.88 per cwt to $370.40, compared with $365.05 to $371.88.
The USDA choice cutout Monday was down $0.02 per cwt at $368.90 while select was up $4.73 at $367.12. The choice/select spread narrowed to $1.78 from $6.53 with 7.37 loads of fabricated product and 23 loads of trimmings and grinds sold into the spot market.
The USDA-listed the weighted average wholesale price for fresh 90% lean beef as $405.22 per cwt, and 50% beef was $149.92.
The USDA said basis bids for corn from feeders in the Southern Plains were unchanged at $0.95 to $1.10 a bushel over the Mar corn contract, which settled at $4.28 1/4, down $0.02 1/4.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index for the seven days ended Friday was $363.57 per cwt, up $0.09. This compares with Monday’s Jan contract settlement of $366.70, up $1.90.