Red Meat Production Falls 1% Year Over Year

According to the USDA, red meat output in April fell 1% from 2024’s numbers.  Production in the U.S. totaled 4.6 billion pounds last month, down from 4.64 billion a year earlier.  Beef output was reported at 2.24 billion pounds, up 3% year over year, as cattle slaughter dropped 6% to 2.57 million head.  The average live weight was up 36 pounds to 1,431 pounds.

Meanwhile, pork production rose 1% from the previous year to 2.34 billion pounds in April, USDA said.  Hog slaughter also rose 1%, reaching 10.8 million head, and average weight was up a pound to 291 pounds.

Veal output plunged 39% to 2.1 million pounds, while lamb and mutton production jumped 13% to 12.8 million pounds.  Commercial red meat output from January 1 through the end of April totaled 18.1 billion pounds, down 1% from the same timeframe last year, the USDA noted.

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