Commercial Red Meat Production Down 2 Percent from Last Year
- August 2023 contained 23 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 4 Saturdays.
- August 2024 contained 22 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 5 Saturdays.
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.59 billion pounds in August, down 2 percent from the 4.68 billion pounds produced in August 2023.
- Beef production, at 2.29 billion pounds, was 3 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.70 million head, down 7 percent from August 2023. The average live weight was up 37 pounds from the previous year, at 1,388 pounds.
- Veal production totaled 3.1 million pounds, 26 percent below August a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 17,000 head, down 36 percent from August 2023. The average live weight was up 40 pounds from last year, at 313 pounds.
- Pork production totaled 2.29 billion pounds, down slightly from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.9 million head, down 2 percent from August 2023. The average live weight was up 4 pounds from the previous year, at 282 pounds.
- Lamb and mutton production, at 10.5 million pounds, was down 1 percent from August 2023. Sheep slaughter totaled 176,400 head, 4 percent below last year. The average live weight was 117 pounds, up 4 pounds from August a year ago.
January to August 2024 commercial red meat production was 36.4 billion pounds, up 1 percent from 2023.
Accumulated beef production was down 1 percent from last year, veal was down 14 percent, pork was up 2 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was up 2 percent.
