The USDA says record high pork production in December helped boost total U-S commercial red meat production for the month.
American pork production was 2 point 11 billion pounds in December.
That's up 2 per cent from the previous year and a combination of 1 per cent more hogs slaughtered and a 3 pounds per animal increase in the weight of animals slaughtered.
The 2 billion pounds of beef produced in the U-S last month was 2 per cent lower than the previous year.
Cattle slaughter was down 5 per cent while the average live weight was up 29 pounds.
American veal production was down 22 per cent from December 2013 while lamb and mutton production was up 3 per cent.
The USDA says commercial red meat production for all of 2014 was down 4 per cent from 2013.
Beef production was down 6 per cent on the year, veal down 16 per cent, pork down 1 per cent and lamb and mutton production down slightly.
