News

Record monthly beef production in September

The USDA says more beef was produced last month than any other September on record.

Beef production was 2.391 billion pounds, up 4% from September 2021, with a 4% increase in the slaughter to 2.898 million head canceling out a 1 pound loss in the average live weight to 1,364 pounds.

The dairy cow slaughter was 260,500 head, down 5,600 from August and 4,100 from September 2021. The year-to-date dairy cow slaughter is 2,277,300 head, 59,800 less than this time last year.

Pork production was 2.259 billion pounds, down slightly on the year, with the slighter 1% lower at 10.659 million head and the average live weight two pounds heavier at 285 pounds.

September’s red meat production totaled 4.665 billion pounds, 2% higher, with year-to-date production at 41.452 billion pounds, a little bit ahead of the year ago pace.