Recently released statistics by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service found that production of cattle and calves fell in 2002 and the total gross income from cattle, calves, pigs, hogs, sheep, and lambs fell 10 percent from 2001. Poultry production and value continued to increase, however.
Lets start with the cows. In 2002 the USDA reports there were 96,704 thousand cattle and calves on American farms valued at more than $72 billion. Of those, 36.78 million cattle and calves were slaughtered at federally inspected and other slaughter plants.
More than 100 million hogs were slaughtered in 2002 — an increase of more than 2 million over 2001 — although income from hogs and pigs feel by 23 percent from 2001.
The poultry industry continued to make up the difference. Preliminary statistics show that 32,128 million pounds worth of broiler chickens were sold in 2002 compared to 31,955 million pounds in 2001 — sales of broiler chickens is up 27 percent since 1994 and per capita consumption hit an all time high in 2002 of 95 pounds. Turkey distribution also increased, with 5,642 million pounds sold in 2002 compared to 5,489 million pounds sold the year before.
Sources:
Red meat animals worth less. MeatNews.Com, April 2003.
USDA-NASS Agricultural Statistics 2003. USDA, 2003.