The poultry data was released last Wednesday. The supply numbers will inform the revisions to the annual estimates for 2010 and they also feed into the broader statistics for US beef, pork and poultry consumption.

Below are some of the highlights from the latest release:

Total US commercial cattle slaughter in October was reported to be 2.866 million head, about 20,200 head or 0.7 per cent smaller than a year ago. However, keep in mind that there were only 21 slaughter days in October 2010 compared to 22 slaughter days a year ago. When adjusting for this (i.e. considering head slaughtered per slaughter day) cattle slaughter was up 4 per cent compared to a year ago. Steer slaughter in October was 1.343 million head, 17,400 head or 1.3 per cent smaller than last October. Heifer slaughter was 854,000 head, 15,300 head or 1.8 per cent smaller than a year ago. Again, the one less slaughter day had an impact and when adjusted for it, both steer and heifer slaughter were up compared to last October. The monthly statistics also confirmed that US cow slaughter rates continue to trend well above year ago levels, a point we have made repeatedly in recent updates. Total US cow slaughter in October was 558,000 head, 11,500 head or 2.1 per cent higher than a year ago. Beef cow slaughter for the month was 326,000 head, 6,200 head or 1.94 per cent higher than a year ago. Dairy cow slaughter was 231,000 head, 4,200 head or 1.85 per cent higher than last year. When adjusted for the one less slaughter data, US cow slaughter for the month was up about 11 per cent compared to year ago levels. Total US commercial beef production in October was reported to be 2.237 billion pounds, 37.9 million pounds or 1.7 per cent smaller than in October 2009. For the period Jan - Oct 2010, total US beef production is now reported to be 21.808 billion pounds, 6.7 million pounds or 0.03 per cent smaller than a year ago.

Hog slaughter in October was sharply lower compared to a year ago, in part because of one less slaughter day available. Total hog slaughter in October was reported to be 9.733 million head, 585,700 head or 5.7 per cent less than a year ago. When adjusting for the one less slaughter day, October hog slaughter was down 1.2 per cent compared to a year ago. Sow slaughter was reported to be 258,000 head, 31,900 head or 11 per cent lower than a year ago. In October, sow slaughter comprised 2.75 per cent of overall slaughter, compared to 2.93 per cent a year ago. Total production for the month, however, was 2.003 billion pounds, 86.1 million pounds or 4.12 per cent smaller than a year ago. It is somewhat of an odd statistics considering the sharp rise in hog weights. The monthly data was skewed by the fact of one less production day in 2010. When adjusting for that factor, pork production was up 0.4 per cent.