Cattle weights widen to their largest increase vs. last year.

The weekly Actual Slaughter report this morning detailed meat production statistics for the second week of May.

Dressed steer weights in this week were unchanged with the prior at 923 lbs. Dressed heifer weights were also unchanged from the prior week, 848 lbs. As weights should be falling at this time of year this data would be seen as negative. Dressed steers increased from +28 lbs. from one year ago to now +32. Dressed heifers increased from +25 lbs. from last year to now +28.

Higher weights are returning back 3.5% to beef production separate from slaughter numbers. This is the largest year/year difference so far.

Dressed barrow/gilt weights were unchanged in the latest week, 213 lbs. Compared with last year they increased from -1 lb. to now even.

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