Lamb and mutton production, at 20.0 million pounds, was equal to the previous record low for February set a year ago. The average live weight was 138 pounds, up 3 pounds from February a year ago. The month of March 1999 had the largest red meat production at 93.9 million pounds. Red meat production in commercial plants and on farms for the United States totaled 46.3 billion pounds in 1999. This was 2 percent higher than the previous record high set in 1998.
Red meat includes beef, veal, pork, and lamb and mutton.
Red meat production in commercial plants totaled 46.1 billion pounds.