Commercial Red Meat Production Up 10 Percent from Last Year
- July 2023 contained 21 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 5 Saturdays.
- July 2024 contained 23 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.55 billion pounds in July, up 10 percent from the 4.13 billion pounds produced in July 2023.
- Beef production, at 2.29 billion pounds, was 8 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.72 million head, up 5 percent from July 2023. The average live weight was up 36 pounds from the previous year, at 1,380 pounds.
- Veal production totaled 3.3 million pounds, 11 percent below July a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 17,600 head, down 24 percent from July 2023. The average live weight was up 44 pounds from last year, at 322 pounds.
- Pork production totaled 2.25 billion pounds, up 12 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.7 million head, up 11 percent from July 2023. The average live weight was up 2 pounds from the previous year, at 283 pounds.
- Lamb and mutton production, at 11.3 million pounds, was up 19 percent from July 2023. Sheep slaughter totaled 185,100 head, 16 percent above last year. The average live weight was 120 pounds, up 3 pounds from July a year ago.
January to July 2024 commercial red meat production was 31.8 billion pounds, up 1 percent from 2023.
Accumulated beef production was down slightly from last year, veal was down 12 percent, pork was up 2 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was up 3 percent.
