U.S. pork production in October hit a record high as the hog slaughter surged to an all-time high of 10.86 million head, government data showed on Friday, as high feed costs drove producers to cull herds.
More hogs passed through U.S. packing plants last month than ever before as farmers liquidated their herds as the worst drought in half a century shriveled fields, catapulting feed prices to historic highs.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said pork production in October rose 9 percent from the previous year to 2.21 billion lbs.
The October slaughter number was 10 percent higher year-on-year and surpassed the previous record of 10.654 million in October 2008.
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