News

Meat in cold storage numbers mixed for March

The USDA’s cold storage numbers for meat were mixed on the year.

Domestic red meat stocks at the end of March were 4% below last year at 870.25 million pounds as a 1% rise for beef to 426.882 million pounds was more than canceled out by a 9% drop in pork at 422.254 million pounds, reflecting differences in demand. The supply of veal and other pork cuts was the tightest on record for the month.

Poultry in cold storage was 3% less than a year ago at 1.094 billion pounds, with a 3% gain in the chicken supply to 787.076 million pounds against a 15% decline for turkey to 305.281 million pounds, largely in-line with recent trends in production. That included the smallest stocks for the month on record for broiling, frying, and roasting chickens, and turkey legs, mechanically boned turkey, and unclassified turkey.

The USDA’s updated red meat and poultry supply, demand, and production numbers are out May 12^th.