Cattle weights increase to +3.9% vs. last year.

The weekly Actual Slaughter report today covered meat production data for the third week of May.

Dressed steers finished out at 921 lbs., -2 from the prior week. Dressed heifers finished at 847 lbs., -1 from the prior week.

Though weights did decline from the prior week it should have been more. This is a time of sharply falling weights. Compared with last year dressed steers went from +32 lbs. to now +36. Dressed heifers grew from +28 lbs. to now +29.

Weights are now adding back 3.9% of beef production separate from slaughter numbers.

Dressed barrows/gilts finished out at 213 lbs., unchanged from the prior week. Compared with last year they went from even to now +1 lb.

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