Beef Production & Cattle Slaughter Both Lower in April
- April 2025 contained 22 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 4 Saturdays.
- April 2026 contained 22 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 4 Saturdays.
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.46 billion pounds in April, down 3 percent from the 4.60 billion pounds produced in April 2025.
Beef production, at 2.10 billion pounds, was 6 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.34 million head, down 9 percent from April 2025. The average live weight was up 36 pounds from the previous year, at1,467 pounds.
Veal production totaled 1.5 million pounds, 29 percent below April a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 7,100 head, down 31 percent from April 2025. The average live weight was up 16 pounds from last year, at 371 pounds.
Pork production totaled 2.35 billion pounds, up slightly from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.7 million head, down 1 percent from April 2025. The average live weight was up 2 pounds from the previous year, at 293 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 10.4 million pounds, was down 19 percent from April 2025. Sheep slaughter totaled 178,900 head, 13 percent below last year. The average live weight was 114 pounds, down 9 pounds from April a year ago.
January to April 2026 commercial red meat production was 17.7 billion pounds, down 2 percent from 2025.
Accumulated beef production was down 6 percent from last year, veal was down 25 percent, pork was up 1 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 7 percent.
