According to a report from the Ag Department, red meat output in April fell 1% from the same month in 2024. Production in the U.S. totaled 4.6 billion pounds last month, down from 4.65 billion a year earlier, the agency said in their monthly report. 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.

Pork production, meanwhile, 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 just slightly higher at 291 pounds. Veal output plunged 39% while lamb and mutton production jumped 13%. Commercial red meat output from Jan. 1 through the end of April totaled 18.1 billion pounds, down 1% from the same timeframe last year. 

According to a report from the Ag Department, red meat output in April fell 1% from the same month in 2024. Production in the U.S. totaled 4.6 billion pounds last month, down from 4.65 billion a year earlier, the agency said in their monthly report. 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.Pork production, meanwhile, 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 just slightly higher at 291 pounds. Veal output plunged 39% while lamb and mutton production jumped 13%. Commercial red meat output from Jan. 1 through the end of April totaled 18.1 billion pounds, down 1% from the same timeframe last year. -NAFB

Red meat production falls 1% year over year