Five weeks in a row with cattle weights +3% year/year.

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

Dressed steer weights were +3 lbs. this week compared with the prior week, now 923. Dressed heifer weights were unchanged from the prior week, 923 lbs. Compared with last year, which had a bump in weights this week, steers went from +30 lbs. to now +28. Heifers increased from +24 lbs. vs. last year to now +25.

As a whole, there has been no real change in the cattle weight narrative. Higher weights, separate from slaughter numbers, are adding back 3.1% to beef production. There are now five weeks in a row with weights +2.9% to +3.2% year/year.

Dressed barrow/gilt weights were unchanged from the prior week, 213 lbs. Compared with last year there was no change, -1 lb.

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