August Beef Production & Cattle Slaughter down Double Digits from 1 Year Ago
- August 2024 contained 22 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 5 Saturdays.
- August 2025 contained 21 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 5 Saturdays.
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.15 billion pounds in August, down 10 percent from the 4.59 billion pounds produced in August 2024.
Beef production, at 2.02 billion pounds, was 12 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.33 million head, down 14 percent from August 2024. The average live weight was up 25 pounds from the previous year, at 1,413 pounds.
Veal production totaled 1.9 million pounds, 38 percent below August a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 9,400 head, down 45 percent from August 2024. The average live weight was up 39 pounds from last year, at 353 pounds.
Pork production totaled 2.12 billion pounds, down 8 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.1 million head, down 7 percent from August 2024. The average live weight was down 2 pounds from the previous year, at 280 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 10.0 million pounds, was down 5 percent from August 2024. Sheep slaughter totaled 174,900 head, 1 percent below last year. The average live weight was 112 pounds, down 5 pounds from August a year ago.
January to August 2025 commercial red meat production was 35.2 billion pounds, down 3 percent from 2024. Accumulated beef production was down 4 percent from last year, veal was down 38 percent, pork was down 2 percent from last year, and lamb and mutton production was up 3 percent.
