Red Meat Production Up

(AP) - The U.S. Department of Agriculture says commercial red meat production in South Dakota totaled 85.8 million pounds during August.

The figure is up 3 percent from a year ago and up 21 percent from July.

Commercial hog slaughter for South Dakota totaled 390,900 head during August, compared to 382,900 head the year before. The average live weight was 263 pounds, up 6 pounds from a year earlier.

Commercial sheep and lamb slaughter for South Dakota remained unchanged in August from last year at 300 head. Average live weight was 119 pounds, up 2 pounds from August 2011.