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Six Hunter Education Instructors Awarded For Excellence

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PRATT – Kansas has certified 535,901 students in Hunter Education since the program’s inception 42 years ago and has done so without paying one person to teach a class. The program, which is carried out by more than 1,200 volunteer instructors across the state, is unique in that it is fueled by passion, not payment. Volunteer instructors, some of whom have devoted the better portion of their lives to share their love of the outdoors with youth, are what make the program possible. It’s because of this unfaltering dedication from volunteers that the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism annually recognizes six special instructors for their contributions.

Dennis Vincent, a veteran instructor of 25 years, has been named the “2014 Instructor of the Year” and for those that know him, that comes as no surprise.

“Dennis is a down-to-earth spokesman for hunting and shooting,” said Kansas Hunter Education coordinator, Kent Barrett. “He is able to communicate with everyone from the politician in the statehouse, to the hunting veteran with 30 years of field experience, to the terrified mother watching her 12-year-old son shoot a shotgun for the first time.”

Vincent will receive a certificate and a 2015 CZ Sharp-Tail 20 gauge side-by-side shotgun as tokens of appreciation for his dedication.

Other instructors recognized for their exemplary involvement, performance, and continued dedication to the program include:

-Marshall Rhea, Region 1

-Larry Noell, Region 2

-William Kreie, Region 3

-Dennis DeLay, Region 4

-Ben Rockers, Region 5

Each regional winner will also receive a certificate of appreciation and a TriStar Viper G2 Synthetic Semi-Automatic 20 gauge shotgun.

For more information on the Hunter Education program and its volunteer instructors, contact program coordinator, Kent Barrett, at [email protected].

To find a Hunter Education class near you, visit ksoutdoors.com and click “Services / Education / Hunter.”

Chickadee Checkoff Small Grants Proposals Due April 15

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PRATT — The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism is accepting proposals for the Chickadee Checkoff Small Grants Program through April 15, 2015. Grant recipients carry out projects focused on wildlife diversity and native nongame wildlife species, while addressing the issues and strategies within the Kansas Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan, “A Future for Kansas Wildlife.”

The Chickadee Checkoff  Program funds a variety of educational, research-based, and habitat enhancement projects, as well as the monitoring of nongame wildlife and habitats. The diverse projects completed as a result of this program have led to numerous publications in scientific journals, educational products, and new information on native nongame wildlife species and their habitats.

Completed proposals must be received at the KDWPT Pratt Operations Office by April 15. To learn about eligibility requirements and to view a list of priority projects for 2015, download the grant guidance document by visiting ksoutdoors.com and clicking “Services / Wildlife Diversity / Chickadee Checkoff.”

Livestock Slaughter

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Photo credit: United Soybean Board
ISSN: 0499-0544

Released March 19, 2015, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service 
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of 
Agriculture (USDA).

Record Pork Production for February

February 2014 contained 20 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.
February 2015 contained 20 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 3.77 billion 
pounds in February, up 3 percent from the 3.65 billion pounds produced in 
February 2014.

Beef production, at 1.79 billion pounds, was slightly above the previous 
year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.17 million head, down 3 percent from 
February 2014. The average live weight was up 25 pounds from the previous 
year, at 1,355 pounds.

Veal production totaled 6.4 million pounds, 21 percent below February a year 
ago. Calf slaughter totaled 36,700 head, down 30 percent from February 2014. 
The average live weight was up 26 pounds from last year, at 293 pounds.

Pork production totaled 1.96 billion pounds, up 6 percent from the previous 
year. Hog slaughter totaled 9.08 million head, up 5 percent from February 
2014. The average live weight was up 2 pounds from the previous year, at 
285 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 12.3 million pounds, was up 6 percent from 
February 2014. Sheep slaughter totaled 164,700 head, 2 percent below last 
year. The average live weight was 141 pounds, up 3 pounds from February a 
year ago.

January to February 2015 commercial red meat production was 7.9 billion 
pounds, down slightly from 2014. Accumulated beef production was down 
4 percent from last year, veal was down 24 percent, pork was up 4 percent 
from last year, and lamb and mutton production was up 3 percent. 

This page intentionally left blank.

Contents

Commercial Red Meat Production - United States..........................................  4

Federally Inspected Red Meat Production - United States.................................  4

Livestock Slaughter, Number of Head and Average Live Weight - United States.............  5

Commercial Red Meat Production - States and United States...............................  6

Commercial Cattle Slaughter - States and United States: February 2014 and 2015..........  7

Commercial Calf Slaughter - States and United States: February 2014 and 2015............  8

Commercial Hog Slaughter - States and United States: February 2014 and 2015.............  9

Commercial Sheep and Lamb Slaughter - States and United States: February 2014 and 2015.. 10

Livestock Slaughtered Under Federal Inspection, By Class - United States................ 11

Federally Inspected Slaughter, Average Dressed Weight, By Class - United States......... 11

Federally Inspected Slaughter - Regions and United States: February 2015................ 12

Federally Inspected Slaughter - Regions and United States: January to February 2015..... 13

Federally Inspected Slaughter, Percent of Total Commercial Slaughter - United States.... 13

Statistical Methodology................................................................. 14

Terms and Definitions Used for Livestock Slaughter Estimates............................ 15

Information Contacts.................................................................... 16

Commercial Red Meat Production - United States
[Totals, accumulated totals and percentages based on unrounded data]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :          :          :          :February 2015 as % of :     January to February     
                  : February : January  : February :----------------------------------------------------
       Type       :   2014   :   2015   :   2015   : February :  January  :         :         :2015 as %
                  :          :          :          :   2014   :   2015    :  2014   :  2015   : of 2014 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  : ------- million pounds ------      --- percent ---        million pounds    percent 
                  :                                                                                     
Beef .............: 1,788.4    1,991.3    1,792.5      100          90      3,929.2   3,783.8      96   
Veal .............:     8.2        6.9        6.4       79          93         17.5      13.4      76   
Pork .............: 1,844.2    2,115.9    1,955.8      106          92      3,929.9   4,071.7     104   
Lamb and mutton ..:    11.6       12.4       12.3      106         100         24.0      24.7     103   
                  :                                                                                     
Total red meat ...: 3,652.3    4,126.5    3,767.1      103          91      7,900.6   7,893.6     100   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Federally Inspected Red Meat Production - United States
[Totals, accumulated totals and percentages based on unrounded data]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :          :          :          :February 2015 as % of :     January to February     
                  : February : January  : February :----------------------------------------------------
       Type       :   2014   :   2015   :   2015   : February :  January  :         :         :2015 as %
                  :          :          :          :   2014   :   2015    :  2014   :  2015   : of 2014 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  : ------- million pounds ------      --- percent --         million pounds    percent 
                  :                                                                                     
Beef .............: 1,762.2    1,936.2    1,744.3       99         90       3,873.8   3,680.6      95   
Veal .............:     8.0        6.7        6.2       77         92          17.2      12.9      75   
Pork .............: 1,833.7    2,093.5    1,934.6      106         92       3,908.0   4,028.1     103   
Lamb and mutton ..:    10.9       11.0       10.8       99         98          22.6      21.8      96   
                  :                                                                                     
Total red meat ...: 3,614.9    4,047.5    3,695.9      102         91       7,821.6   7,743.4      99   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Livestock Slaughter, Number of Head and Average Live Weight - United States
[Totals, accumulated totals and percentages based on unrounded data]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             :              :              :              :   February   :            January to February             
                             :   February   :   January    :   February   :  2015 as %   :--------------------------------------------
           Species           :     2014     :     2015     :     2015     :   of 2014    :              :              :  2015 as %   
                             :              :              :              :              :     2014     :     2015     :   of 2014    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             :                                                percent                                      percent    
                             :                                                                                                        
Cattle                       :                                                                                                        
Number of head               :                                                                                                        
  Federally inspected ..1,000:   2,204.2        2,376.5        2,134.2           97           4,837.9        4,510.7          93      
  Other ................1,000:      39.9           41.4           36.4           91              85.1           77.9          91      
  Commercial ...........1,000:   2,244.1        2,418.0        2,170.6           97           4,923.1        4,588.6          93      
Live weight per head         :                                                                                                        
  Federally inspected .pounds:   1,334          1,362          1,359            102           1,336          1,360           102      
  Other ...............pounds:   1,153          1,167          1,159            101           1,149          1,163           101      
  Commercial ..........pounds:   1,330          1,359          1,355            102           1,332          1,357           102      
                             :                                                                                                        
Calves                       :                                                                                                        
Number of head               :                                                                                                        
  Federally inspected ..1,000:      51.5           39.3           36.1           70             113.5           75.4          66      
  Other ................1,000:       0.7            0.6            0.6           89               1.4            1.2          84      
  Commercial ...........1,000:      52.1           39.9           36.7           70             114.9           76.6          67      
Live weight per head         :                                                                                                        
  Federally inspected .pounds:     266            290            292            110             258            291           113      
  Other ...............pounds:     375            370            396            106             373            383           103      
  Commercial ..........pounds:     267            291            293            110             259            292           113      
                             :                                                                                                        
Hogs                         :                                                                                                        
Number of head               :                                                                                                        
  Federally inspected ..1,000:   8,608.8        9,698.4        9,017.7          105          18,335.0       18,716.1         102      
  Other ................1,000:      58.9           62.0           59.1          100             122.7          121.1          99      
  Commercial ...........1,000:   8,667.7        9,760.4        9,076.8          105          18,457.8       18,837.2         102      
Live weight per head         :                                                                                                        
  Federally inspected .pounds:     283            287            285            101             284            286           101      
  Other ...............pounds:     244            247            245            100             244            246           101      
  Commercial ..........pounds:     283            287            285            101             284            286           101      
                             :                                                                                                        
Sheep and lambs              :                                                                                                        
Number of head               :                                                                                                        
  Federally inspected ..1,000:     155.4          153.0          149.9           96             322.4          302.9          94      
  Other ................1,000:      12.5           13.7           14.8          118              26.1           28.5         109      
  Commercial ...........1,000:     167.9          166.7          164.7           98             348.5          331.4          95      
Live weight per head         :                                                                                                        
  Federally inspected .pounds:     140            144            144            103             140            144           103      
  Other ...............pounds:     110            104            109             99             106            107           101      
  Commercial ..........pounds:     138            141            141            102             137            141           103      
                             :                                                                                                        
Goats                        :                                                                                                        
Number of head               :                                                                                                        
  Federally inspected ..1,000:      31.5           34.9           28.3           90              67.0           63.2          94      
  Other ................1,000:      11.0           11.3            9.3           85              23.6           20.6          87      
  Commercial ...........1,000:      42.5           46.2           37.6           89              90.5           83.8          93      
Live weight per head         :                                                                                                        
  Federally inspected .pounds:      64             62             63             98              64             63            98      
  Other ...............pounds:      71             80             81            114              67             81           121      
  Commercial ..........pounds:      66             67             68            103              65             67           103      
                             :                                                                                                        
Bison                        :                                                                                                        
Number of head               :                                                                                                        
  Federally inspected ..1,000:       3.9            4.8            4.0          103               8.7            8.8         101      
  Other ................1,000:       0.8            0.8            0.8           98               1.7            1.6          92      
  Commercial ...........1,000:       4.7            5.6            4.7          102              10.4           10.3         100      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Commercial Red Meat Production - States and United States
[Includes total beef, veal, pork, lamb, and mutton. Totals and percentages based on
unrounded data.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         State         :   February   :   January    :   February   :February 2015 as 
                       :     2014     :     2015     :     2015     :    % of 2014    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       :   ----------- million pounds ----------          percent     
                       :                                                              
Alabama ...............:       0.7            0.6            0.6             82       
Alaska ................:       (Y)            (Y)            (Y)            (X)       
Arizona ...............:      32.2           37.5           35.3            110       
Arkansas ..............:       0.4            0.4            0.3             96       
California ............:     129.2          113.7          103.9             80       
Colorado ..............:     164.3          167.0          160.4             98       
Delaware-Maryland .....:       2.4            2.5            2.5            105       
Florida ...............:       7.7            7.7            6.4             83       
Georgia ...............:      12.0           10.1            9.5             80       
Hawaii ................:       0.7            0.8            0.8            112       
                       :                                                              
Idaho .................:       3.2            3.6            3.4            105       
Illinois ..............:     236.3          276.1          253.6            107       
Indiana ...............:     138.5          153.8          143.4            104       
Iowa ..................:     535.1          609.1          568.9            106       
Kansas ................:     363.3          410.0          370.6            102       
Kentucky ..............:      40.5           46.9           43.3            107       
Louisiana .............:       0.5            0.4            0.4             90       
Michigan ..............:      38.3           37.4           34.1             89       
Minnesota .............:     203.0          227.9          207.6            102       
Mississippi ...........:       0.8            0.4            0.4             54       
                       :                                                              
Missouri ..............:     148.1          170.0          152.6            103       
Montana ...............:       0.9            0.8            0.8             93       
Nebraska ..............:     510.3          618.5          548.2            107       
Nevada ................:       0.1            0.1            0.1            120       
New England 1/ ........:       1.2            1.5            1.2            100       
New Jersey ............:       3.3            3.3            3.4            102       
New Mexico ............:       0.2            0.3            0.3            129       
New York ..............:       2.6            2.8            2.5             96       
North Carolina ........:     196.0          217.8          205.1            105       
North Dakota ..........:       0.8            0.7            0.7             95       
                       :                                                              
Ohio ..................:      21.0           21.0           20.1             95       
Oklahoma ..............:      84.3          102.1           96.4            114       
Oregon ................:       5.6            6.3            5.8            105       
Pennsylvania ..........:      94.2          111.2          101.0            107       
South Carolina ........:      18.0           20.7           17.1             95       
South Dakota ..........:      90.7          101.7           90.2            100       
Tennessee .............:      16.5           20.6           17.8            108       
Texas .................:     307.7          335.0          304.2             99       
Utah ..................:      37.0           38.9           35.2             95       
Virginia ..............:      46.2           47.3           38.5             83       
                       :                                                              
Washington ............:      63.2           66.7           62.8             99       
West Virginia .........:       0.5            0.6            0.4             94       
Wisconsin .............:      94.8           92.5           81.1             86       
Wyoming ...............:       0.4            0.4            0.4            100       
                       :                                                              
United States .........:   3,652.3        4,126.5        3,767.1            103       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(X) Not applicable.                                                                   
(Y) Less than level of precision shown.                                               
1/  New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode      
    Island, and Vermont.                                                              

Commercial Cattle Slaughter - States and United States: February 2014 and 2015
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :  Number slaughtered   :  Total live weight   : Average live weight 
       State      :--------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :   2014    :   2015    :   2014    :   2015   :   2014   :   2015   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :  ---- 1,000 head ---    --- 1,000 pounds ---    ---- pounds ----   
                  :                                                                    
Alabama ..........:      0.5         0.4          501        390    1,033      1,038   
Alaska ...........:      (Y)         (Y)          (X)        (X)      (X)        (X)   
Arizona ..........:     41.3        44.0       55,187     59,420    1,339      1,353   
Arkansas .........:      0.4         0.4          421        373      964      1,011   
California .......:    128.6        96.1      168,638    125,461    1,320      1,318   
Colorado .........:    184.9       178.7      253,380    246,324    1,372      1,379   
Delaware-Maryland :      2.6         2.6        3,268      3,435    1,275      1,317   
Florida ..........:      (D)         9.6          (D)     11,921      (D)      1,258   
Georgia ..........:      (D)         (D)          (D)        (D)      (D)        (D)   
Hawaii ...........:      0.8         0.9          955      1,044    1,131      1,170   
                  :                                                                    
Idaho ............:      2.1         2.8        2,279      3,155    1,166      1,204   
Illinois .........:      (D)         (D)          (D)        (D)      (D)        (D)   
Indiana ..........:      3.0         2.6        3,221      2,794    1,066      1,066   
Iowa .............:      (D)         (D)          (D)        (D)      (D)        (D)   
Kansas ...........:    426.6       423.2      562,989    572,080    1,320      1,352   
Kentucky .........:      1.2         0.9        1,183        908      977      1,046   
Louisiana ........:      0.5         0.4          403        383      822        920   
Michigan .........:     42.8        37.3       58,525     52,067    1,374      1,403   
Minnesota ........:     57.7        45.3       82,925     68,320    1,444      1,516   
Mississippi ......:      0.1         0.1           59         92      772        831   
                  :                                                                    
Missouri .........:      5.7         4.4        6,546      4,824    1,156      1,093   
Montana ..........:      1.1         0.9        1,286      1,102    1,148      1,204   
Nebraska .........:    451.2       478.0      633,410    680,406    1,405      1,425   
Nevada ...........:      0.1         0.1           85         80    1,048      1,023   
New England 1/ ...:      1.3         1.3        1,409      1,432    1,073      1,083   
New Jersey .......:      2.7         2.4        2,926      2,563    1,089      1,063   
New Mexico .......:      0.2         0.3          212        276      972      1,089   
New York .........:      2.5         2.3        2,892      2,726    1,154      1,182   
North Carolina ...:      5.6         4.2        6,668      5,072    1,207      1,220   
North Dakota .....:      1.0         0.9        1,194      1,107    1,245      1,259   
                  :                                                                    
Ohio .............:      7.8         6.7        9,105      7,791    1,188      1,179   
Oklahoma .........:      2.0         2.0        1,927      2,012      987        987   
Oregon ...........:      4.6         4.7        5,638      5,679    1,249      1,232   
Pennsylvania .....:     69.6        73.1       84,432     89,060    1,218      1,223   
South Carolina ...:     11.3        11.1       12,656     13,452    1,130      1,221   
South Dakota .....:      (D)         (D)          (D)        (D)      (D)        (D)   
Tennessee ........:      3.9         3.6        3,366      3,345      867        949   
Texas ............:    393.4       380.9      497,912    491,607    1,269      1,294   
Utah .............:     43.5        41.8       60,292     56,936    1,388      1,364   
Virginia .........:      1.1         0.9        1,164      1,041    1,035      1,097   
                  :                                                                    
Washington .......:     78.6        75.9      104,056    102,715    1,328      1,356   
West Virginia ....:      0.6         0.5          607        511    1,012      1,086   
Wisconsin ........:    109.6        88.7      150,800    122,996    1,384      1,395   
Wyoming ..........:      0.6         0.6          656        649    1,076      1,119   
                  :                                                                    
United States ....:  2,244.1     2,170.6    2,978,853  2,934,757    1,330      1,355   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.                       
(X) Not applicable.                                                                    
(Y) Less than level of precision shown.                                                
1/  New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode       
    Island, and Vermont.                                                               

Commercial Calf Slaughter - States and United States: February 2014 and 2015
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :  Number slaughtered   :  Total live weight   : Average live weight 
       State      :--------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :   2014    :   2015    :   2014    :   2015   :   2014   :   2015   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :   -- 1,000 head --       -- 1,000 pounds --      --- pounds ---    
                  :                                                                    
Alabama ..........:    (Y)         (Y)          (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)    
Alaska ...........:    (Y)         (Y)          (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)    
Arizona ..........:    (Y)         (Y)          (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)    
Arkansas .........:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)    
California .......:   12.6         7.6        1,182         694       94         92    
Colorado .........:    (Y)         (D)          (X)         (D)      (X)        (D)    
Delaware-Maryland :    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)    
Florida ..........:    (D)         (Y)          (D)         (X)      (D)        (X)    
Georgia ..........:    0.1         (Y)           54         (X)      598        (X)    
Hawaii ...........:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)    
                  :                                                                    
Idaho ............:    (Y)         (D)          (X)         (D)      (X)        (D)    
Illinois .........:    1.1         0.6          465         267      427        434    
Indiana ..........:    0.6         0.4          165         104      279        278    
Iowa .............:    (D)         (Y)          (D)         (X)      (D)        (X)    
Kansas ...........:    (Y)         (Y)          (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)    
Kentucky .........:    (Y)         (Y)          (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)    
Louisiana ........:    0.1         (Y)           48         (X)      501        (X)    
Michigan .........:    0.1         0.1           33          35      303        307    
Minnesota ........:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)    
Mississippi ......:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)    
                  :                                                                    
Missouri .........:    (Y)         (Y)          (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)    
Montana ..........:    (Y)         (D)          (X)         (D)      (X)        (D)    
Nebraska .........:    (D)         (Y)          (D)         (X)      (D)        (X)    
Nevada ...........:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)    
New England 1/ ...:    0.4         0.3           62          54      159        168    
New Jersey .......:    4.5         4.9        1,881       2,116      417        433    
New Mexico .......:    (D)         (Y)          (D)         (X)      (D)        (X)    
New York .........:    6.3         4.1          717         523      115        131    
North Carolina ...:    0.1         (Y)           24         (X)      384        (X)    
North Dakota .....:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)    
                  :                                                                    
Ohio .............:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)    
Oklahoma .........:    (Y)         (Y)          (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)    
Oregon ...........:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)    
Pennsylvania .....:    9.9         6.5        4,039       2,827      407        433    
South Carolina ...:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)    
South Dakota .....:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)    
Tennessee ........:    (Y)         (Y)          (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)    
Texas ............:    0.7         0.4          377         213      574        580    
Utah .............:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)    
Virginia .........:    (Y)         (Y)          (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)    
                  :                                                                    
Washington .......:    (D)         0.9          (D)          82      (D)         90    
West Virginia ....:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)    
Wisconsin ........:    6.2         4.6        2,814       2,143      457        463    
Wyoming ..........:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)    
                  :                                                                    
United States ....:   52.1        36.7       13,879      10,685      267        293    
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.                       
(X) Not applicable.                                                                    
(Y) Less than level of precision shown.                                                
1/  New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode       
    Island, and Vermont.                                                               

Commercial Hog Slaughter - States and United States: February 2014 and 2015
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :  Number slaughtered   :  Total live weight   : Average live weight 
       State      :--------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :   2014    :   2015    :   2014    :   2015   :   2014   :   2015   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :  ---- 1,000 head ---    --- 1,000 pounds ---     --- pounds ---    
                  :                                                                    
Alabama ..........:      1.7         1.5          649        546     382        368    
Alaska ...........:      0.1         0.1           25         30     295        252    
Arizona ..........:      0.1         0.1           22         32     236        251    
Arkansas .........:      0.7         0.6          178        168     247        263    
California .......:    172.3       177.8       42,204     44,943     245        253    
Colorado .........:      1.2         1.2          285        263     235        222    
Delaware-Maryland :      1.4         1.6          386        429     269        270    
Florida ..........:      2.8         6.3          518        785     189        124    
Georgia ..........:      5.6         5.5        1,369      1,303     244        239    
Hawaii ...........:      0.9         1.0          212        246     249        256    
                  :                                                                    
Idaho ............:     10.5         8.6        2,682      2,320     256        270    
Illinois .........:    832.7       897.8      238,485    259,235     287        289    
Indiana ..........:    645.1       665.7      179,119    185,891     278        279    
Iowa .............:  2,355.8     2,468.9      669,161    705,949     284        286    
Kansas ...........:      (D)         (D)          (D)        (D)     (D)        (D)    
Kentucky .........:      (D)         (D)          (D)        (D)     (D)        (D)    
Louisiana ........:      1.1         0.9          228        218     207        231    
Michigan .........:     15.3        13.7        6,190      5,192     405        378    
Minnesota ........:    787.0       836.2      213,482    228,757     271        274    
Mississippi ......:      4.0         3.4        1,060        490     268        143    
                  :                                                                    
Missouri .........:    667.3       686.0      190,808    198,307     286        289    
Montana ..........:      0.8         0.8          170        194     222        243    
Nebraska .........:    575.8       636.4      160,366    178,262     279        280    
Nevada ...........:      (Y)         0.1          (X)         26     (X)        257    
New England 1/ ...:      1.6         1.5          408        364     257        247    
New Jersey .......:      6.7         8.9          651        867      98         97    
New Mexico .......:      0.1         0.2           27         51     274        280    
New York .........:      2.4         2.5          549        591     227        234    
North Carolina ...:      (D)         (D)          (D)        (D)     (D)        (D)    
North Dakota .....:      0.3         0.3           85         99     271        290    
                  :                                                                    
Ohio .............:     71.1        72.6       20,412     20,221     287        279    
Oklahoma .........:    377.6       444.8      108,753    124,839     288        281    
Oregon ...........:     13.0        13.1        3,314      3,553     256        270    
Pennsylvania .....:    211.9       236.1       57,426     62,919     271        267    
South Carolina ...:      (D)         (D)          (D)        (D)     (D)        (D)    
South Dakota .....:      (D)         (D)          (D)        (D)     (D)        (D)    
Tennessee ........:     48.9        53.5       22,042     24,116     451        452    
Texas ............:     22.9        24.9        5,866      6,168     257        248    
Utah .............:      3.1         3.5          699        540     222        155    
Virginia .........:      (D)         (D)          (D)        (D)     (D)        (D)    
                  :                                                                    
Washington .......:      (D)         (D)          (D)        (D)     (D)        (D)    
West Virginia ....:      0.4         0.5           98        153     254        301    
Wisconsin ........:     49.3        49.1       21,758     22,164     442        452    
Wyoming ..........:      0.2         0.2           47         57     259        259    
                  :                                                                    
United States ....:  8,667.7     9,076.8    2,452,682  2,586,849     283        285    
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.                       
(X) Not applicable.                                                                    
(Y) Less than level of precision shown.                                                
1/  New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode       
    Island, and Vermont.                                                               

Commercial Sheep and Lamb Slaughter - States and United States: February 2014 and 2015
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :  Number slaughtered   :  Total live weight   : Average live weight 
       State      :--------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :   2014    :   2015    :   2014    :   2015   :   2014   :   2015   
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :   --- 1,000 head --      -- 1,000 pounds --      --- pounds ---    
                  :                                                                    
Alabama ..........:     (Y)         (Y)         (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)    
Alaska ...........:     (Y)         (Y)         (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)    
Arizona ..........:     0.2         0.3          31          38      133        126    
Arkansas .........:     0.1         0.1           5           5       97         94    
California .......:    22.4        23.3       3,181       3,434      142        147    
Colorado .........:    75.1        68.3      11,658      11,018      155        161    
Delaware-Maryland :     3.1         3.0         307         295       99         99    
Florida ..........:     0.6         0.5          36          31       64         64    
Georgia ..........:     0.8         0.3          53          27       65         79    
Hawaii ...........:     0.1         0.1           9          13      136        133    
                  :                                                                    
Idaho ............:     0.1         0.1          14          19      139        140    
Illinois .........:    11.5         (D)       1,712         (D)      149        (D)    
Indiana ..........:     3.4         2.8         389         330      116        116    
Iowa .............:     0.1         0.2          16          23      139        116    
Kansas ...........:     0.3         0.4          28          32      105         82    
Kentucky .........:     0.9         0.8         101         101      119        121    
Louisiana ........:     0.4         0.4          33          26       92         69    
Michigan .........:    14.0        15.4       1,926       2,122      138        138    
Minnesota ........:     0.3         0.4          30          38      111        108    
Mississippi ......:     0.3         0.3          21          21       74         76    
                  :                                                                    
Missouri .........:     0.5         0.8          63          67      115         87    
Montana ..........:     0.3         0.3          35          35      131        125    
Nebraska .........:     (Y)         0.1         (X)          10      (X)        126    
Nevada ...........:     (Y)         (Y)         (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)    
New England 1/ ...:     1.7         1.8         162         192       96        106    
New Jersey .......:     7.6         7.7         618         593       81         77    
New Mexico .......:     0.7         0.7         104         106      146        148    
New York .........:     3.0         3.6         300         380      101        105    
North Carolina ...:     0.8         0.7          56          48       71         71    
North Dakota .....:     (Y)         (Y)         (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)    
                  :                                                                    
Ohio .............:     0.8         0.8          81          85      106        105    
Oklahoma .........:     0.1         0.2           8          15       97         81    
Oregon ...........:     2.1         2.3         285         340      136        148    
Pennsylvania .....:     4.2         4.0         420         438      101        110    
South Carolina ...:     (D)         (D)         (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)    
South Dakota .....:     0.2         0.2          21          32      130        156    
Tennessee ........:     0.9         0.6          59          44       68         75    
Texas ............:     7.2         8.6         777         891      108        103    
Utah .............:     (D)         1.9         (D)         254      (D)        137    
Virginia .........:     0.3         0.3          23          25       93         95    
                  :                                                                    
Washington .......:     0.7         0.9         101         121      137        134    
West Virginia ....:     (D)         (D)         (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)    
Wisconsin ........:     0.7         0.6          90          75      129        125    
Wyoming ..........:     0.1         0.1          10          18      139        139    
                  :                                                                    
United States ....:   167.9       164.7      23,165      23,215      138        141    
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.                       
(X) Not applicable.                                                                    
(Y) Less than level of precision shown.                                                
1/  New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode       
    Island, and Vermont.                                                               

Livestock Slaughtered Under Federal Inspection, By Class - United States
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :          :          :          :  January to February  :          :          :          :  January to February  
       Class      : February : January  : February :-----------------------: February : January  : February :-----------------------
                  :   2014   :   2015   :   2015   :   2014    :   2015    :   2014   :   2015   :   2015   :   2014    :   2015    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  :  -------------------- 1,000 head -------------------      ----------------- percent of total ----------------   
                  :                                                                                                                 
Cattle            :                                                                                                                 
Steers ...........:  1,097      1,209      1,055       2,397       2,264       49.8       50.9       49.4        49.5        50.2   
Heifers ..........:    635        649        627       1,386       1,277       28.8       27.3       29.4        28.7        28.3   
All cows .........:    435        481        422         975         903       19.7       20.2       19.8        20.1        20.0   
Dairy cows .......:    237        275        242         507         518       10.7       11.6       11.4        10.5        11.5   
Other cows .......:    199        205        180         468         386        9.0        8.6        8.4         9.7         8.5   
Bulls ............:     38         38         30          80          68        1.7        1.6        1.4         1.7         1.5   
                  :                                                                                                                 
Total ............:  2,204      2,377      2,134       4,838       4,511      100.0      100.0      100.0       100.0       100.0   
                  :                                                                                                                 
Calves and        :                                                                                                                 
 vealers ......   :     51         39         36         114          75      100.0      100.0      100.0       100.0       100.0   
                  :                                                                                                                 
Hogs              :                                                                                                                 
Barrows and       :                                                                                                                 
  gilts ..........:  8,366      9,435      8,775      17,825      18,210       97.2       97.3       97.3        97.2        97.3   
Sows .............:    217        235        222         457         457        2.5        2.4        2.5         2.5         2.4   
Boars ............:     26         28         20          54          49        0.3        0.3        0.2         0.3         0.3   
                  :                                                                                                                 
Total ............:  8,609      9,698      9,018      18,335      18,716      100.0      100.0      100.0       100.0       100.0   
                  :                                                                                                                 
Sheep             :                                                                                                                 
Mature            :                                                                                                                 
  sheep ..........:      9          9          8          20          16        6.0        5.7        5.1         6.1         5.4   
Lambs and         :                                                                                                                 
  yearlings ......:    146        144        142         303         286       94.0       94.3       94.9        93.9        94.6   
                  :                                                                                                                 
Total ............:    155        153        150         322         303      100.0      100.0      100.0       100.0       100.0   
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Federally Inspected Slaughter, Average Dressed Weight, By Class - United States
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :          :          :          :  January to February  
          Class          : February : January  : February :-----------------------
                         :   2014   :   2015   :   2015   :   2014    :   2015    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         :                         pounds                         
                         :                                                        
Cattle ...............   :   801        817        819         803         818    
Steers 1/ ...............:   866        884        880         869         882    
Heifers 1/ ..............:   804        814        817         806         815    
All cows 1/ .............:   627        642        663         625         652    
Bulls 1/ ................:   883        912        918         878         914    
                         :                                                        
Calves and vealers ...   :   157        172        173         152         172    
                         :                                                        
Hogs .................   :   213        216        215         213         215    
Barrows and gilts 2/ ....:   211        214        212         211         213    
Sows 2/ .................:   304        305        306         303         306    
Boars 2/ ................:   203        201        202         203         201    
                         :                                                        
Sheep ................   :    70         72         72          70          72    
Mature sheep 3/ .........:    66         69         66          65          67    
Lambs and yearlings 3/ ..:    71         72         72          71          72    
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Included in cattle average dressed weight.                                     
2/ Included in hog average dressed weight.                                        
3/ Included in sheep average dressed weight.                                      

Federally Inspected Slaughter - Regions and United States: February 2015
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                            Cattle                            : Calves 
   Standard   :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    federal   :        :        :        :           Cows           :        :        
  regions 1/  : Total  : Steers :Heifers :--------------------------: Bulls  : Total  
              :        :        :        :  All   : Dairy  : Other  :        :        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                              1,000 head                               
              :                                                                       
1 ............:    1.2      0.5     0.4      (D)      (D)      (D)      (D)      0.3  
2 ............:    4.6      1.3     1.0      2.0      1.6      0.4      0.4      8.9  
3 ............:   74.6     18.8     6.0     47.9     38.8      9.1      2.0      6.7  
4 ............:   43.0      2.8     1.1     34.1     12.9     21.3      5.0      0.1  
5 ............:  237.7    114.3    24.5     92.4     57.8     34.6      6.4     11.3  
6 ............:  379.4    199.0   105.0     68.7     32.9     35.8      6.6      0.3  
7 ............:  940.1    500.2   368.0     66.6      4.3     62.3      5.3      (D)  
8 ............:  230.2    122.7    90.8      (D)      (D)      (D)      (D)      (D)  
9 ............:  140.6     52.9     8.9     77.0     70.4      6.6      1.9      7.5  
10 ...........:   82.7     42.5    21.5     18.0     15.1      2.8      0.7      0.9  
              :                                                                       
United States :2,134.2  1,054.9   627.1    422.3    242.3    180.0     29.8     36.1  

              :----------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                 Hogs                  :            Sheep             
              :----------------------------------------------------------------------
              :  Total  : Barrows :         :         :  Total  : Mature  :Lambs and 
              :         :and gilts:  Sows   :  Boars  :         :  sheep  :yearlings 
              :----------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                              1,000 head                              
              :                                                                      
1 ............:     1.2       1.2      (Y)      (Y)        1.8      0.1        1.7   
2 ............:    11.3      11.2      0.1      (Y)       10.9      1.0        9.9   
3 ............:   405.9     404.9      0.9      (Y)        7.8      1.1        6.7   
4 ............:     (D)       (D)      (D)      0.7        3.1      0.7        2.5   
5 ............: 2,509.8   2,399.2    106.6      4.0       27.7      1.9       25.9   
6 ............:   465.4     465.0      0.4      0.1        3.4      0.6        2.8   
7 ............: 3,804.6   3,737.5     51.6     15.5        0.7      (Y)        0.7   
8 ............:     (D)       (D)      (D)      (Y)       70.0      1.7       68.3   
9 ............:   174.6     174.6      (Y)      (Y)       22.1      0.5       21.6   
10 ...........:    22.9      22.9      (Y)      (Y)        2.4      0.2        2.2   
              :                                                                      
United States : 9,017.7   8,775.2    222.0     20.5      149.9      7.7      142.2   
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.                     
(Y) Less than level of precision shown.                                              
1/  States included in regions are as follows:  1 - Connecticut, Maine,              
    Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont; 2 - New Jersey, New York; 3 
    - Delaware-Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia; 4 - Alabama, Florida,
    Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee; 5 -   
    Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin; 6 - Arkansas, Louisiana,
    New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas; 7 - Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska; 8- Colorado,  
    Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming; 9 - Arizona, California,     
    Hawaii, Nevada; 10 - Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington.                          

Federally Inspected Slaughter - Regions and United States: January to February 2015
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                            Cattle                            : Calves 
   Standard   :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
    federal   :        :        :        :           Cows           :        :        
  regions 1/  : Total  : Steers :Heifers :--------------------------: Bulls  : Total  
              :        :        :        :  All   : Dairy  : Other  :        :        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                              1,000 head                               
              :                                                                       
1 ............:    2.6      1.1      0.8     (D)      (D)      (D)      (D)      0.6  
2 ............:    9.9      2.8      1.9     4.3      3.4      0.9      0.9     18.1  
3 ............:  159.7     39.8     11.4   103.6     83.9     19.7      4.9     14.4  
4 ............:   97.7      5.6      2.6    78.4     28.7     49.7     11.1      0.2  
5 ............:  505.2    236.5     58.3   195.9    123.3     72.7     14.5     24.9  
6 ............:  799.9    410.7    223.7   150.5     67.6     82.9     15.0      0.5  
7 ............:1,990.2  1,098.1    749.8   130.1      8.7    121.4     12.2      (D)  
8 ............:  474.6    275.2    161.4     (D)      (D)      (D)      (D)      (D)  
9 ............:  299.7    106.6     21.9   167.0    150.9     16.1      4.2     14.8  
10 ...........:  171.3     87.2     44.7    38.0     32.1      5.9      1.3      2.0  
              :                                                                       
United States :4,510.7  2,263.5  1,276.5   903.2    517.6    385.5     67.5     75.4  

              :----------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                 Hogs                  :            Sheep             
              :----------------------------------------------------------------------
              :  Total   : Barrows  :        :        :  Total  : Mature  :Lambs and 
              :          :and gilts :  Sows  : Boars  :         :  sheep  :yearlings 
              :----------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                              1,000 head                              
              :                                                                      
1 ............:      2.9        2.8     0.1      (Y)       3.9      0.2        3.7   
2 ............:     21.3       21.1     0.2      (Y)      22.0      2.0       20.0   
3 ............:    859.1      857.3     1.7      0.1      15.7      2.5       13.2   
4 ............:      (D)        (D)     (D)      7.6       6.9      1.6        5.3   
5 ............:  5,213.2    4,987.4   217.1      8.7      56.6      4.0       52.6   
6 ............:    957.3      956.2     0.6      0.5       6.3      1.1        5.2   
7 ............:  7,905.5    7,768.6   105.2     31.8       1.5      (Y)        1.4   
8 ............:      (D)        (D)     (D)      (Y)     141.3      3.7      137.6   
9 ............:    348.4      348.3     0.1      (Y)      43.8      1.0       42.8   
10 ...........:     47.8       47.7     0.1      (Y)       4.9      0.5        4.4   
              :                                                                      
United States : 18,716.1   18,210.2   457.1     48.8     302.9     16.5      286.5   
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.                     
(Y) Less than level of precision shown.                                              
1/  States included in regions are as follows:  1 - Connecticut, Maine,              
    Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont; 2 - New Jersey, New York; 3 
    - Delaware-Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia; 4 - Alabama, Florida,
    Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee; 5 -   
    Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin; 6 - Arkansas, Louisiana,
    New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas; 7 - Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska; 8- Colorado,  
    Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming; 9 - Arizona, California,     
    Hawaii, Nevada; 10 - Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington.                          

Federally Inspected Slaughter, Percent of Total Commercial Slaughter -
United States
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :             :             :            :  January to February   
    Species   :  February   :   January   :  February  :------------------------
              :    2014     :    2015     :    2015    :    2014    :   2015    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              :                             percent                             
              :                                                                 
Cattle .......:    98.2          98.3          98.3         98.3        98.3    
Calves .......:    98.7          98.5          98.4         98.8        98.4    
Hogs .........:    99.3          99.4          99.3         99.3        99.4    
Sheep ........:    92.6          91.8          91.0         92.5        91.4    
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Statistical Methodology

Data Sources: Primary data for the Livestock Slaughter publication are 
obtained from electronic reports completed by inspectors from the Food Safety 
and Inspection Service (FSIS), USDA, which provide daily counts of animals 
slaughtered in Federally Inspected (FI) plants, in addition to total live and 
dressed weights. These counts are combined with data from State-administered 
Non-Federally Inspected (NFI) slaughter plants to derive total commercial 
slaughter estimates.

There are nearly 800 livestock slaughter plants in the United States 
operating under Federal Inspection and over 1,900 Non-Federally Inspected 
(State-inspected or custom-exempt) slaughter plants. Slaughter from State-
inspected Talmedge-Aiken plants is included in FI totals (see Terms and 
Definitions, page 15). To prevent duplication in reporting between FI and NFI 
plants and assure all FI plants are included, certificates prepared by FSIS 
identifying operating status are constantly monitored.

Revision Policy: Number of head slaughtered, live weights, and dressed 
weights are subject to revision the following month after the monthly 
release. Annual totals are published in the slaughter summary each April 
which includes any revisions made to current and previous year's published 
data. Revisions are generally the result of late reports received from 
slaughter plants and are usually less than one-half of one percent. No 
revisions will be made to the previous year's data after the publication of 
the annual summary in April.

Procedures and Reliability: The livestock slaughter data is obtained 
electronically on a daily basis and summarized approximately two weeks after 
the week of slaughter. A computer program compares each plant's data with the 
historical data for that plant. Data are checked for unusual values for head 
kill, patterns of kill, average weights, and dressing percent, based on each 
plant's past operating profile. In addition, the computer program provides a 
listing of missing reports for follow-up contact with FSIS. Average live and 
dressed weights and dressing percentages by State are compared with the 
previous weeks as an additional check. Fluctuations are frequently the result 
of plants permanently or temporarily closing and a shift in the species 
reported.

The FSIS District Veterinary Medical Specialists (DVMS) are contacted by e-
mail or telephone for missing or potentially erroneous slaughter data. This 
assures that plants slaughtering a large number of head or several species 
are accounted for each week. Any corrections FSIS makes to the slaughter data 
are included in the summary.

Computer imputation may be necessary for incomplete reports. The imputation 
of live and dressed weights is based on the current week reported data of 
plants of similar size and location. Imputation for live and dressed weight 
data for cattle and hogs is less than 10 percent and 7 percent, respectively. 
The imputation for calves and sheep is more frequent and variable.  If no 
data is received electronically or by other means, for plants slaughtering 
fewer than 50 total head weekly of only one species, data are imputed. The 
imputation of head for any plant is based on the historical data for that 
particular plant. The imputation of head slaughtered is rare but when 
necessary, the imputed head kill for missing plants usually is less than 1 
percent of the United States head kill totals.

FI data are summarized weekly and accumulated to a monthly total for this 
release. These weekly totals are published by USDA's Agricultural Marketing 
Service (AMS) in Livestock, Meat, Wool Market News, Weekly Summary, and 
statistics are also available on the NASS website. NFI data are summarized 
monthly only.

Livestock slaughter estimates are based on a census of operating plants and 
therefore, have no sampling error. However, they may be subject to non-
sampling errors such as omissions, duplications and mistakes in reporting, 
recording and processing the data. These errors are minimized through rigid 
quality controls in the computer edit program and summarization process, and 
a careful review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness.

No data are published when an individual plant's data could be divulged. If 
not published, as indicated with a (D), these data are still included in 
United States and region totals. A review of the data is made annually to 
determine the publishable data.

Terms and Definitions Used for Livestock Slaughter Estimates

Average Live Weight: The weight of the whole animal, before slaughter. 
Excludes post-mortem condemnations.

Commercial Production: Includes slaughter and meat production in federally 
inspected and other plants, but excludes animals slaughtered on farms. Based 
on packers' dressed weights.

Custom-Exempt Plants: Plants that do not sell meat but operate on a custom 
basis only are custom-exempt. The animals and meat are not inspected, but the 
facilities must meet health standards. These are considered NFI plants and 
head kill is included in NFI totals.

Dressed Weight: The weight of a chilled animal carcass. Beef with kidney knob 
in; veal with hide off; lamb and mutton with pluck out; pork with leaf fat 
and kidneys out, jowls on and head off.

Dressing Percent: Usually expressed as a percentage yield of chilled carcass 
in relation to the weight of the live animal on hoof. For example, a live hog 
that weighed 200 pounds on hoof and yielded a carcass weighing 140 pounds 
would have a dressing percentage of 70.

Federally Inspected (FI) Plants: Plants that transport meat interstate must 
employ federal inspectors to assure compliance with USDA standards. Any state 
whose commercial plants operate entirely under federal inspection may still 
have custom-exempt establishments for which NFI estimates are made.

Food and Meat Inspection: Includes examination, checking, or testing of a 
carcass and/or meat against established government standards and involves 
checking the facility for cleanliness, health of animals, or parts of animals 
and quality of the meat produced.

Non-Federally Inspected (NFI) Plants: Plants which sell and transport only 
intrastate. State inspectors assure compliance with individual state 
standards for these NFI plants. Mobile slaughtering units are excluded and 
are considered farm slaughter.

Number of Head: Includes post-mortem condemnations.

Plant, Slaughter: An establishment where animals are killed and butchered.

Red Meat: Red meat production is the carcass weight after slaughter excluding 
condemnation and is comprised of beef, veal, pork, and lamb and mutton. The 
FI red meat production is equal to the total carcass weight after slaughter. 
The NFI meat production formula is (NFI head kill) X (live weight) X (FI 
dressing percentage) = NFI red meat production.

Slaughter: Killing and butchering of animals primarily for food.

Slaughter, Farm: Animals slaughtered on farms primarily for home consumption. 
Excludes custom slaughter for farmers at commercial establishments, but 
includes mobile slaughtering on farms. These estimates appear only in the 
annual slaughter release.

Talmedge-Aiken (TA) Plants: Slaughter plants in which USDA is responsible for 
inspection. However, federal inspection is carried out by State employees. 
These plants are considered to be federally inspected.

Total Live Weight: The total weight of live animals, before slaughter. 
Excludes post-mortem condemnations.

Wholesome Meat Act: Legislation that specifies that all meat produced for 
sale in the United States must be inspected. Meat that is transported 
interstate must be inspected in compliance with Federal (USDA) Standards.

Information Contacts

Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock 
Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to 
contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent 
to [email protected]

Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch ........... (202) 720-3570

Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ........... (202) 690-2424
   Travis Averill - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ...... (202) 720-3040
   Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ...... (202) 720-3240
   Doug Bounds - Hogs and Pigs .................. (202) 720-3106
   Donnie Fike - Dairy Products ................. (202) 690-3236
   Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278
   Evan Schulz - Sheep and Goats................. (202) 720-6147

Access to NASS Reports

For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following 
ways:

 	All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web 
site: http://www.nass.usda.gov

 	Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e-
mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit 
http://www.nass.usda.gov and in the "Follow NASS" box under "Receive 
reports by Email," click on "National" or "State" to select the reports 
you would like to receive. 

For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural 
Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: 
[email protected]. 
  
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against 
its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, 
color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, 
reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial 
or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual's 
income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic 
information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded 
by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs 
and/or employment activities.) 
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, 
complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), found online 
at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA 
office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a 
letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your 
completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, 
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at 
[email protected].

Agriculture Events

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Photo credit: Montgomery County Planning

MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State Research and Extension is offering these events, available to all interested persons. For more information about these, as well as more localized events, check with your local K-State Research and Extension office.

 

* March 19 – Planning for Farm & Ranch Succession – Iola – http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/kams

* March 25 – Low-Stress Handling Workshop – Salina – 785-392-2147 or [email protected]

* April 1 – Pie and Coffee Series on Beef Cattle – Saint Paul – 620-365-2242

* June 5-6 – SW Kansas Women in Agriculture: Operators, Managers, Marketers – Garden City – 620-272-3670 or [email protected]

* June 10-13 – Animal Science Leadership Academy – Manhattan – [email protected]Application

* June 17-20 – Animal Science Leadership Academy – Manhattan – [email protected]Application

* Aug. 20-21 – Risk and Profit Conference – Manhattan – 785-532-1504 or [email protected]

In God’s Face

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Sandra Pugh
Sandra Pugh

What Agnes Mellecker prayed for she usually received.

 

             I met Agnes Mellecker in the late 70’s and quickly discovered what an amazing woman she was. This little 5’ nothing woman could do anything she set her mind to. When I first met her she was already in her late 70’s and living alone. At Christmas every year she would fly to California to see family and stay for a month. She made this trip well into her 90’s.  Nothing seemed to scare her.

She volunteered at a local nursing home and would go everyday and help feed those that couldn’t feed themselves. She had certain ones that she fed 2 meals a day to give the nurses time to do other jobs. She would also do errands for these patients and read to them and help them write letters.

When Agnes was in her 80’s and 90’s she had several women that she would shop for or would drive them so they could do their own shopping and then would help them with anything they wanted or needed done around the house. She told me she loved helping the old people that had no one to help them. I would ask her how old they were, and the majority of the time she was older than they were. But she was young at heart and had the energy of a 50 year old.

Agnes had the most magical hands; she could sew, and do beautiful embroidery, and loved to make little scrubbies out of netting, you know the ones you scrub pots and pans with. She also made the most wonderful angel food cakes, and she would surprise me with one and say to me,” I just had the feeling that you could use one of these today.” I usually had something coming up that weekend that I could have used a cake for, but I was never very good about sharing her wonderful angel food cakes.

But the most miraculous thing was her ability to completely rid you of a stiff neck. Once she put her hands on you it was going to go away. When she arrived at the salon she could tell the minute she walked in that I had a stiff neck. She always told me to sit down before we started on her hair and she would work the stiff muscles in my neck for about 5 minutes.  She would then tell me it would be okay.

My neck would still be hurting when she was finished with me, but by the time she was dry and ready to be combed, it was feeling normal and the pain was gone. When my friend in Arkansas came back to visit she always stopped first at Agnes’s house to get a neck and back rub before she did anything else.

Agnes had more faith than any person I have ever met in my life, including some ministers I have known. She had an unfailing belief that if she prayed for something it was going to happen and I became a believer in her prayers also.

If there was something that you were worried about or something that you really needed to happen in your life you asked Agnes to pray for it. And it usually came about or resolved itself.

She went to the church every Monday morning at 7:00 and spent an hour on her knees praying. She had a list of people that she prayed for every Monday……. and in the middle of the night if she couldn’t sleep she would pray. She would even pray to the patron saint of animals if something was wrong with your companion.

Agnes fell in love with Miss Lady (our first cocker) the minute she met her and every year when Holy Cross held the” bless the animals” day she always wanted me to take Miss Lady, but I was working and could never go. So Agnes bought Lady a St Francis medal and had the Priest bless it. Miss Lady wore it the rest of her life because Agnes wanted to be sure she was protected.

When I had surgery I always told Agnes when the surgery was to begin and about the amount of time that they told me it would take. I knew when I went into the surgical room that she would be on her knees at the church and she would stay there until the surgery was over. I knew that everything was going to go okay as long as Agnes was on duty at the church.

I believe that Agnes had a direct line to God and that anything she asked for she usually received. Everyone that knew her felt the same and would always ask her to pray for them. She would even pray for a total stranger if you gave her the name and what the problem was, and it always helped them too.

When Miss Lady became ill in August with congestive heart failure, at the age of 13, we were told that we would be lucky to have her with us at Christmas. When I told Agnes what the vet had told us, she said we will just see about that. She told us that as long as we thought she was happy and wanted to stay around she would ask St Francis to help her and keep her here with us.

A year and a month later I knew that Miss Lady was tired and ready to go. I told Agnes on a Thursday that she was ready and she could ask St. Francis to help her leave. She said she would ask for that very thing that night when she prayed for her list of people.

The very next evening, on Friday, Miss Lady passed away very peacefully at home. I called Agnes the next morning and told her about it and she said she had asked St Francis to take her. She knew before I called that it had happened.

From that day on I always told her I firmly believed that what she prayed for she received. I told her that I suspected God got so tired of her being in his face that he would tell the saint to give her whatever she asked for.

So now that Agnes has passed away at the age of 97 (almost 98) I have a feeling that she will become a guardian angel for someone, and even though God took her home it will not keep her from being in His face.

She will just be closer and able to bug him more for anything she thinks those she is guarding may need. I sure hope I am one of the lucky few that she chooses to be in God’s face for. To contact Sandy: [email protected]