US commercial red meat production totaled 5.024 billion pounds in October, up 250 million, or 5.24% from the 4.774 billion produced in October 2023, the USDA said Thursday in its Livestock Slaughter report.
October’s commercial red meat production also was up 573 million pounds, or 12.9%, from September’s 4.451 billion pounds.
The totals included beef, veal and pork along with lamb and mutton with some goats and bison thrown in. The breakdown showed increases in beef, pork and lamb and mutton production with a decline in veal production.
As with commercial red meat production, Federally Inspected red meat production for October also was up from last year. The data showed FI red meat production totaled 4.971 billion pounds in the month, up 250 million, or 5.30%, from 4.721 billion a year earlier and up 566 million, or 12.8%, from 4.405 billion a month earlier.
CATTLE SLAUGHTER UP FROM 2023 MONTH
Commercial cattle slaughter in October was 2.858 million head, up 33,000, or 1.17%, from 2.825 million a year ago but down 285,000, or 11.1%, from September’s 2.573 million. The average live weight was recorded at 1,418 pounds per head, up 44, or 3.20%, from 1,374 pounds a year earlier and up 10, or 0.71%, from 1,408 pounds a month earlier.
The FI cattle kill totaled 2.801 million head, up 33,000, or 1.19%, from 2.768 million a year ago and up 277,000, or 11.0%, from 2.524 million a month ago. The average weight was 1,422 pounds per head, up 44, or 3.19%, from 1,378 a year earlier and up 12, or 0.85%, from 1,410 a month earlier.
HOG KILLS RISES
October commercial hog slaughter totaled 11.914 million head, up 485,000, or 4.24%, from 11.429 million a year earlier and up 1.393 million, or 13.2%, from 10.521 million a month earlier. The average live weight for hogs in this slaughter group was 287 pounds, up two, or 0.70%, from 285 a year earlier and a month earlier.
October’s FI hog kill totaled 11.854 million head, up from 11.367 million a year earlier and up from 10.466 million a month earlier. The average weight for FI hog slaughter in October was 287 pounds, versus 285 pounds for last year and last month, the same as for commercial slaughter.
VEAL KILL DECLINES
Commercial veal slaughter in October totaled 17,100 head, compared with 23,000 a year earlier and 16,100 a month earlier. The average live weight of these calves was 330 pounds, down from 309 a year ago but up from 324 a month ago.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
The USDA reported formula and contract base prices for live FOB steers and heifers this week ranged from $185.00 per cwt to $190.15, compared with last week’s range of $186.88 to $193.00 per cwt. FOB dressed steers, and heifers went for $291.22 per cwt to $295.19, compared with $293.96 to $299.32.
The USDA choice cutout Thursday was up $0.40 per cwt at $306.79 while select was up $1.93 at $272.92. The choice/select spread narrowed to $33.87 from $35.40 with 92 loads of fabricated product and 37 loads of trimmings and grinds sold into the spot market.
The USDA-listed weighted average wholesale price for fresh 90% lean beef was $327.82 per cwt, and 50% beef was $78.65.
The USDA said basis bids for corn from feeders in the Southern Plains were unchanged at $1.42 to $1.54 a bushel over the Dec corn contract and unchanged in Kansas at $0.25 over Dec, which settled at $4.26 3/4 a bushel, down $0.03 1/2.
The CME Feeder Cattle Index for the seven days ended Wednesday was $254.27 per cwt, up $0.01. This compares with Thursday’s Nov contract settlement of $255.12, up $0.32.