September Commercial Red Meat Production Up 2 Percent from Last Year
- September 2023 contained 21 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 5 Saturdays.
- September 2024 contained 21 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.45 billion pounds in September, up 2 percent from the 4.35 billion pounds produced in September 2023.
- Beef production, at 2.20 billion pounds, was 3 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.57 million head, down 1 percent from September 2023. The average live weight was up 44 pounds from the previous year, at 1,406 pounds.
- Veal production totaled 3.1 million pounds, 16 percent below September a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 16,100 head, down 26 percent from September 2023. The average live weight was up 37 pounds from last year, at 324 pounds.
- Pork production totaled 2.23 billion pounds, up 2 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.5 million head, up slightly from September 2023. The average live weight was up 4 pounds from the previous year, at 285 pounds.
- Lamb and mutton production, at 10.6 million pounds, was up 4 percent from September 2023. Sheep slaughter totaled 176,400 head, 1 percent above last year. The average live weight was 118 pounds, up 2 pounds from September a year ago.
January to September 2024 commercial red meat production was 40.8 billion pounds, up 1 percent from 2023.
Accumulated beef production was down slightly 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.
