The average live weight of 264 pounds was two pounds above the previous year. Lamb and mutton production, at 17.0 million pounds, was down 13 percent from February 2000. The average live weight was 143 pounds, up 5 pounds from February a year ago. The month of October 2000 had the largest red meat production with 97.2 million pounds. Red meat production in commercial plants and on farms for the United States totaled 46.3 billion pounds in 2000, slightly higher than the previous record-high set in 1999.
Red meat includes beef, veal, pork, and lamb and mutton.
Red meat production in commercial plants totaled 46.2 billion pounds.