The USDA now expects more total meat production this year and next than it had forecast in September.
The department has boosted beef production this year based on higher forecast slaughter numbers.
It's 2016 beef production forecast is now raised because of higher expected slaughter numbers and carcass weights.
A higher-than-expected hog slaughter rate for the rest of this year and increased pork production next are the major contributors to the department's higher forecast for pork production in 2015 and 16.
Because of those numbers, the USDA has reduced it's forecast for average U-S cattle prices this year and next while raising it's 2015 and 2016 hog prices because of firmer demand.
The department is projecting an average steer price of just over 149 dollars for 2015 and of between 136 and 147 dollars for 2016.
That's down over 3 dollars for this year from last month's forecast and down 11 to 12 dollars for 2016.
The average U-S barrow and gilt price is expected to be 50.82 this year and between 47 and 50 dollars next year.
This year's average is slightly higher than last month's projection while next year's forecast is a dollar higher than September.
