Commercial Red Meat Production Up 1 Percent from Last Year
- March 2024 contained 21 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 5 Saturdays.
- March 2025 contained 21 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 5 Saturdays.
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.42 billion pounds in March, up 1 percent from the 4.38 billion pounds produced in March 2024.
Beef production, at 2.15 billion pounds, was 2 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.48 million head, down 1 percent from March 2024. The average live weight was up 34 pounds from the previous year, at 1,426 pounds.
Veal production totaled 2.1 million pounds, 42 percent below March a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 10,900 head, down 43 percent from March 2024. The average live weight was up 5 pounds from last year, at 327 pounds.
Pork production totaled 2.25 billion pounds, up slightly from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.4 million head, down slightly from March 2024. The average live weight was up 2 pounds from the previous year, at 291 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 12.8 million pounds, was up 4 percent from March 2024. Sheep slaughter totaled 199,200 head, slightly below last year. The average live weight was 127 pounds, up 5 pounds from March a year ago.
January to March 2025 commercial red meat production was 13.5 billion pounds, down 1 percent from 2024.
Accumulated beef production was down slightly from last year, veal was down 40 percent, pork was down 2 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was up 1 percent.
