Monthly Livestock Slaughter Report...
Released by USDA on February 24, 2022
Commercial Red Meat Production Down 5 Percent
- January 2021 contained 21 weekdays (including 2 holidays) and 5 Saturdays.
- January 2022 contained 21 weekdays (including 2 holidays) and 5 Saturdays.
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.56 billion pounds in January, down 5 percent from the 4.80 billion pounds produced in January 2021.
- Beef production, at 2.27 billion pounds, was 2 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.70 million head, down 2 percent from January 2021. The average live weight was down 1 pound from the previous year, at 1,398 pounds.
- Veal production totaled 4.6 million pounds, slightly below January a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 32,300 head, slightly below January 2021. The average live weight was unchanged from last year, at 247 pounds.
- Pork production totaled 2.28 billion pounds, 8 percent below the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.4 million head, 7 percent below January 2021. The average live weight was down 1 pound from the previous year, at 294 pounds.
- Lamb and mutton production, at 9.8 million pounds, was 6 percent below January 2021. Sheep slaughter totaled 154,100 head, 5 percent below last year. The average live weight was 127 pounds, down 2 pounds from January a year ago.
