April 25, 2014
US red meat and poultry supplies down in March
On March 31, total red meat and poultry stocks in refrigerated warehouses were down compared to February, according to the USDA's Cold Storage report.
USDA reported that total red meatsupplies in freezers on March 31 declined 8% from February and 14% from 2013, while total pounds of beef in cold storage eased 1% compared to February but dropped 21% from a year ago. Frozen pork supplies dropped 12% from the previous month and 11% from 2013. Stocks of pork bellies declined 9% compared to February but jumped 55% compared to last year.
Total frozen poultrysupplies on March 31 slipped 7% compared to February and dropped 10% from a year ago. Total stocks of chicken declined 14% from the previous month and 6% compared to a year ago. Total pounds of turkey in freezers advanced 8% from last month but declined 16% from the comparable year ago period.