Commercial Red Meat Production Down 6% from Last Year
- January 2025 contained 23 weekdays (including 2 holidays) and 4 Saturdays.
- January 2026 contained 22 weekdays (including 2 holidays) and 5 Saturdays.
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.58 billion pounds in January, down 6 percent from the 4.89 billion pounds produced in January 2025.
Beef production, at 2.12 billion pounds, was 11 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.38 million head, down 12 percent from January 2025. The average live weight was up 25 pounds from the previous year, at 1,464 pounds.
Veal production totaled 1.6 million pounds, 33 percent below January a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 8,500 head, 37 percent below January 2025. The average live weight was up 22 pounds from last year, at 334 pounds.
Pork production totaled 2.45 billion pounds, 2 percent below the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 11.2 million head, 3 percent below January 2025. The average live weight was up 1 pound from the previous year, at 294 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 10.4 million pounds, was 4 percent below January 2025. Sheep slaughter totaled 172,600 head, 1 percent below last year. The average live weight was 118 pounds, down 5 pounds from January a year ago.
