Commercial Red Meat Production Up 5 Percent from Last Year
- October 2023 contained 22 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.
- October 2024 contained 23 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 5.02 billion pounds in October, up 5 percent from the 4.77 billion pounds produced in October 2023.
- Beef production, at 2.47 billion pounds, was 5 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.86 million head, up 1 percent from October 2023. The average live weight was up 44 pounds from the previous year, at 1,418 pounds.
- Veal production totaled 3.3 million pounds, 21 percent below October a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 17,100 head, down 26 percent from October 2023. The average live weight was up 21 pounds from last year, at 330 pounds.
- Pork production totaled 2.54 billion pounds, up 5 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 11.9 million head, up 4 percent from October 2023. The average live weight was up 2 pounds from the previous year, at 287 pounds.
- Lamb and mutton production, at 11.7 million pounds, was up 4 percent from October 2023. Sheep slaughter totaled 194,700 head, slightly above last year. The average live weight was 118 pounds, up 3 pounds from October a year ago.
January to October 2024 commercial red meat production was 45.8 billion pounds, up 1 percent from 2023.
Accumulated beef production was up slightly from last year, veal was down 15 percent, pork was up 2 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was up 2 percent.
