(NAFB.com) – USDA says red meat production fell year over year in November as cattle and hog slaughter both declined. Commercial meat output totaled 4.56 billion pounds in November, down three percent from November 2023. Beef production dropped three percent on an annual basis to 2.22 billion pounds. Cattle slaughter fell six percent to 2.57 million head last month. USDA said the average weight was up 38 pounds to 1,425 pounds. Pork output was 2.33 billion pounds in November, down two percent year over year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.8 million head, down two percent from the same time in 2023. Average live hog weight was unchanged at 289 pounds. Lamb and mutton production was down seven percent annually to 10.4 million pounds. Sheep slaughter fell nine percent to 173,600 head. In the first 11 months of the year, red meat production rose to 50.4 billion pounds, up one percent from last year.