News

Red meat production dipped in February

U.S. commercial red meat production declined in February.

Beef production was 2.092 billion pounds, a drop of 7% from February 2022 because of a 5% decline in the slaughter to 2.548 million head due to tighter available numbers and a 21 pound drop in the average live weight at 1,374 pounds, partially due to relatively high feed costs and younger, lighter cattle moving to market.

The monthly dairy cow slaughter was 266,500 head, 31,400 less than in January but unchanged from February 2022. The year-to-date dairy cow slaughter is 1,148,600 head, 5,100 ahead of the 2022 pace.

Pork production was 2.157 billion pounds, down 1% on the year as a slight increase in the in the slaughter rate to 9.974 million head was canceled out by a 2 pound decrease in the average live weight to 291 pounds.

February’s commercial red meat production total was 4.263 billion pounds, 4% under the year before, with year-to-date production 9.028 billion pounds, slightly ahead of the 2022 pace.