January Livestock Slaughter Report...
Released by USDA on January 19, 2023
Commercial Red Meat Production down 7 Percent from Last Year
- December 2021 contained 23 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.
- December 2022 contained 22 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 5 Saturdays.
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.47 billion pounds in December, down 7 percent from the 4.78 billion pounds produced in December 2021.
- Beef production, at 2.22 billion pounds, was 6 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.68 million head, down 5 percent from December 2021. The average live weight was down 7 pounds from the previous year, at 1,385 pounds.
- Veal production totaled 4.5 million pounds, 15 percent below December a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 32,900 head, down 15 percent from December 2021. The average live weight was unchanged from last year, at 237 pounds.
- Pork production totaled 2.23 billion pounds, down 7 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.3 million head, down 7 percent from December 2021. The average live weight was unchanged from the previous year, at 292 pounds.
- Lamb and mutton production, at 10.9 million pounds, was down 7 percent from December 2021. Sheep slaughter totaled 176,100 head, 7 percent below last year. The average live weight was 122 pounds, down 1 pound from December a year ago.
January to December 2022 commercial red meat production was 55.5 billion pounds, down 1 percent from 2021.
Accumulated beef production was up 1 percent from last year, veal was up 1 percent, pork was down 2 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 5 percent.
