News

October red meat production up 5% on year

Commercial red meat production during October was 5.024 billion pounds. That was an increase of 5% on the year thanks to faster cattle and hog processing paces and heavier average live weights.

Beef production was 2.465 billion pounds, 5% higher, with a slaughter of 2.858 million head, a rise of 1%, and an average live weight of 1,418 pounds, a gain of 44. Pork production was 2.544 billion pounds, up 5%, with a slaughter of 11.914 million head, a jump of 4%, and an average live weight of 287 pounds, a gain of 2.

The slaughter rates for steers and heifers were above last year as cows and bulls declined on the year, while the rates for barrows and gilts were up, with sows and boars down.

The dairy cow slaughter for October 2024 was 235,600 head, up 25,200 from September, but down 7,300 from October 2023. The running total for the year is 2,290,700 head, 331,000 behind a year ago.

For 2024 to date, commercial red meat production is 45.428 billion pounds, 1% ahead of the 2023 pace, with the USDA’s updated projection out December 10^th.