Tyson Foods meat segments making money

CHICAGO May 13 (Reuters) - Beef, pork and chicken are currently profitable for Tyson Foods Inc (TSN.N) even as cash-strapped consumers eat at home more and seek out lower cost foods, Tyson's interim chief executive said during an investor conference on Wednesday.

"Our chicken segment has been profitable since the end of February and it continues to be so," interim CEO Leland Tollett said during a webcast presentation at the BMO Capital Markets conference.

During its earnings report last week, Tyson said its beef, pork, and prepared foods units also were profitable, and Tollett reiterated that point on the webcast.

Chicken companies struggled in 2008 with high feed costs and low meat prices. Since then Tyson and other producers reduced production to cut costs and restore profits, an effort that appears to be working.

Tyson produces the chickens it processes, but buys the cattle and hogs for it beef and pork businesses.

While pork prices slipped due to the recent H1N1 flu outbreak, hog prices dropped as well, which helped the company maintain profit margins on pork, said Jim Lochner, Tyson's senior vice president of fresh meats.

The recession continues to hurt meat sales at fine-dining restaurants, but Tyson officials said sales remain brisk at supermarkets and through fast food restaurants.

Chicken exports have been good, but Tyson's sales to Russia, the leading market for U.S. chicken, have been declining in part as the company focuses on selling more chicken domestically, Tollett said.

Tyson's shares were down 18 cents, or 1.48 percent, at $12.02 in late afternoon trade on the New York Stock Exchange.