Commercial Red Meat Production Down 3 Percent from Last Year
- November 2023 contained 22 weekdays (including 2 holidays) and 4 Saturdays.
- November 2024 contained 21 weekdays (including 2 holidays) and 5 Saturdays.
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.56 billion pounds in November, down 3 percent from the 4.68 billion pounds produced in November 2023.
- Beef production, at 2.22 billion pounds, was 3 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.57 million head, down 6 percent from November 2023. The average live weight was up 38 pounds from the previous year, at 1,425 pounds.
- Veal production totaled 3.1 million pounds, 28 percent below November a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 15,500 head, down 36 percent from November 2023. The average live weight was up 37 pounds from last year, at 338 pounds.
- Pork production totaled 2.33 billion pounds, down 2 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.8 million head, down 3 percent from November 2023. The average live weight was unchanged from the previous year, at 289 pounds.
- Lamb and mutton production, at 10.4 million pounds, was down 7 percent from November 2023. Sheep slaughter totaled 173,600 head, 9 percent below last year. The average live weight was 118 pounds, up 2 pounds from November a year ago.
January to November 2024 commercial red meat production was 50.4 billion pounds, up 1 percent from 2023.
Accumulated beef production was up slightly from last year, veal was down 16 percent, pork was up 2 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was up 2 percent.
