Commercial Red Meat Production Down 2 Percent from Last Year
- February 2025 contained 20 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.
- February 2026 contained 20 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.14 billion pounds in February, down 2 percent from the 4.23 billion pounds produced in February 2025.
Beef production, at 1.93 billion pounds, was 4 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.17 million head, down 7 percent from February 2025. The average live weight was up 34 pounds from the previous year, at 1,466 pounds.
Veal production totaled 1.6 million pounds, 20 percent below February a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 8,200 head, down 27 percent from February 2025. The average live weight was up 28 pounds from last year, at 342 pounds.
Pork production totaled 2.20 billion pounds, down slightly from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.1 million head, down 1 percent from February 2025. The average live weight was up 1 pound from the previous year, at 292 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 10.8 million pounds, was up 3 percent from February 2025. Sheep slaughter totaled 176,400 head, 4 percent above last year. The average live weight was 121 pounds, down 2 pounds from February a year ago.
January to February 2026 commercial red meat production was 8.72 billion pounds, down 4 percent from 2025.
Accumulated beef production was down 8 percent from last year, veal was down 27 percent, pork was down 1 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 1 percent.
