Commercial Red Meat Production for the United States Up 10 Percent
- April 2023 contained 20 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 5 Saturdays.
- April 2024 contained 22 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 4 Saturdays.
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.64 billion pounds in April, up 10 percent from the 4.20 billion pounds produced in April 2023.
Beef production, at 2.30 billion pounds, was 11 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.73 million head, up 7 percent from April 2023. The average live weight was up 41 pounds from the previous year, at 1,395 pounds.
Veal production totaled 3.5 million pounds, 2 percent below April a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 17,500 head, down 20 percent from April 2023. The average live weight was up 59 pounds from last year, at 338 pounds.
Pork production totaled 2.32 billion pounds, up 9 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.7 million head, up 10 percent from April 2023. The average live weight was down 1 pound from the previous year, at 290 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 11.4 million pounds, was up 4 percent from April 2023. Sheep slaughter totaled 188,800 head, 2 percent above last year. The average live weight was 119 pounds, up 2 pounds from April a year ago.
January to April 2024 commercial red meat production was 18.3 billion pounds, up 1 percent from 2023.
Accumulated beef production was down slightly from last year, veal was down 9 percent, pork was up 2 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was up 2 percent.
