The number of calves slaughtered in the State, at 162,300 head, was down 19 percent from 1998. Total pounds of veal produced decreased only 14 percent. Cattle slaughter in the Empire State totaled 65,700 head during 1999, down 24 percent from a year earlier and 30 percent below 1997. Sheep and lamb slaughter totaled 27,300 head in 1999, down 9 percent from 1998 and 7 percent below 1997. New York establishments slaughtered 52,100 hogs during 1999, down 1 percent from the year earlier, but 6 percent above 1997.
Red meat includes beef, veal, pork, and lamb and mutton in commercial plants and on farms.
Beef production was 26.5 billion pounds, up 3 percent from a year earlier. Veal production totaled 233 million pounds, down 11 percent from the previous record low set last year. Pork production, at 19.3 billion pounds, eclipsed the previous record high set a year earlier by 2 percent. Lamb and mutton production totaled 247 million pounds, falling 2 percent below the previous record low set a year ago. Nationally, commercial cattle slaughter during 1999 totaled 36.1 million head, up 2 percent from 1998.