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The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Friday that commercial red meat production in the United States totaled 4.42 billion pounds in January, up 8 percent from the 4.09 billion pounds produced in January 2007.
Leading the way was record pork slaughter, which totaled 2.16 billion pounds, 14 percent above the previous year.
The USDA reported that hog kill totaled 10.6 million head, 13 percent above January 2007. The average live weight was up 2 pounds from the previous year, at 273 pounds.
In Nebraska hog slaughter plants during January, 720,100 head of hogs were killed, compared to January 2007's 623,200 head.
According to the U.S. Meat Export Federation, the United States is expected to lead the global pork export market over the coming decade, with the U.S. share of global exports increasing from an estimated 28 percent last year to 32 percent in 2017.
Despite a forecast for reduction in U.S. pork production in 2009, 2010 and 2011, USDA expects pork exports to continue to grow steadily, most likely fueled by strong global demand and the weak U.S. dollar, according to USMEF officials.
A number of factors influence the improved forecast, according to Erin Daley, USMEF manager of research and analysis, especially China's domestic production and market access restrictions, recovery of exports to Mexico, and continued over-quota exports to Russia.
The USDA outlook report said that U.S. pork production also is expected to increase 5 percent in 2008. That's expected to contribute to an anticipated 1 pound per capita increase in domestic pork consumption this year.
It also is expected that increased production will have a moderating effect on prices, which will support increased consumption, the USDA reported.
Nationwide, beef production, at 2.23 billion pounds, was 3 percent above the previous year, the USDA reported Friday. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.90 million head, up 4 percent from January 2007. The average live weight was up 1 pound from the previous year, at 1,291 pounds.
In Nebraska, beef slaughter plants killed 583,000 head in January compared to January 2007's 581,000 head. The average liveweight was 1,339 pounds compared to 1,344 pounds the previous year.
U.S. beef exports were on the rebound in 2007, increasing by 24 percent to 464,301 metric tons just over 1 billion pounds. Beef exports also were up by 32 percent in value to more than $2 billion, according to the export federation.
USMEF's forecast for U.S. beef exports remains 20 percent higher than USDA estimates for 2008, and 35 to 55 percent higher over the 10-year outlook period. The forecast is based on the anticipated impact of the changes in the status of the South Korean and Japanese beef markets during the first half of 2008.
USMEF said it anticipates a quick recovery of market share in Asia once those markets reopen due to strong beef demand and high beef prices in South Korea and Japan.
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