Commercial Red Meat Production Down 1 Percent from Last Year
April beef production was 3 percent below the previous year with the number of cattle slaughtered down 6 percent.
- April 2024 contained 22 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 4 Saturdays.
- April 2025 contained 22 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 4 Saturdays.
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.60 billion pounds in April, down 1 percent from the 4.64 billion pounds produced in April 2024.
- Beef production, at 2.24 billion pounds, was 3 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.57 million head, down 6 percent from April 2024. The average live weight was up 36 pounds from the previous year, at 1,431 pounds.
- Veal production totaled 2.1 million pounds, 39 percent below April a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 10,300 head, down 41 percent from April 2024. The average live weight was up 17 pounds from last year, at 355 pounds.
- Pork production totaled 2.34 billion pounds, up 1 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.8 million head, up 1 percent from April 2024. The average live weight was up 1 pound from the previous year, at 291 pounds.
- Lamb and mutton production, at 12.8 million pounds, was up 13 percent from April 2024. Sheep slaughter totaled 205,000 head, 9 percent above last year. The average live weight was 123 pounds, up 4 pounds from April a year ago.
January to April 2025 commercial red meat production was 18.1 billion pounds, down 1 percent from 2024. Accumulated beef production was down 1 percent from last year, veal was down 40 percent, pork was down 1 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was up 4 percent.
