Commercial Red Meat Production Up 2 Percent from Last Year
- January 2024 contained 23 weekdays (including 2 holidays) and 4 Saturdays.
- January 2025 contained 23 weekdays (including 2 holidays) and 4 Saturdays.
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.89 billion pounds in January, up 2 percent from the 4.77 billion pounds produced in January 2024.
Beef production, at 2.37 billion pounds, was 4 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.72 million head, down 1 percent from January 2024. The average live weight was up 50 pounds from the previous year, at 1,439 pounds.
Veal production totaled 2.5 million pounds, 37 percent below January a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 13,600 head, 40 percent below January 2024. The average live weight was up 18 pounds from last year, at 312 pounds.
Pork production totaled 2.50 billion pounds, 1 percent above the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 11.5 million head, 1 percent above January 2024. The average live weight was up 1 pound from the previous year, at 293 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 10.9 million pounds, was 3 percent above January 2024. Sheep slaughter totaled 173,500 head, 1 percent above last year. The average live weight was 123 pounds, up 2 pounds from January a year ago.
