USDA Total Red Meat Under Fed Inspct 03/20 13:06

SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri Mar 20, 2026          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, March 21, 2026 was estimated at 1002.8 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 2.2 percent lower than a week ago and 1.0 percent lower
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
3.7 percent lower compared to the previous year.

                        Meat Production (millions of pounds)
                             (excludes condemned)
Week Ending       Beef     Calf/Veal     Pork (2) Lamb/Mutton  Totals (3)
  21-Mar-26       455.3          1.0        544.1         2.4    1002.8
  14-Mar-26       469.4          1.0        552.6         2.4    1025.4
   Change:         -3.0%         0.0%        -1.5%        0.0%     -2.2%
  22-Mar-25       484.6          0.4        525.5         2.8    1013.3
   Change:         -6.0%       150.0%         3.5%      -14.3%     -1.0%
  2026 YTD       5389.1          5.3       6272.8        26.6   11693.8
  2025 YTD       5818.9          5.7       6289.2        27.1   12140.9
   Change:         -7.4%        -6.9%        -0.3%       -1.8%     -3.7%
(1)Previous week estimates may be revised. Year ago data are actuals.
(2) Excludes lard.      (3) Totals may not add due to rounding.
2026 totals are subject to revision
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Livestock Slaughter (head)
Week Ending   Cattle    Calves/Vealer      Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  21-Mar-26     508,000        5,000    2,491,000      38,000
  14-Mar-26     525,000        5,000    2,532,000      39,000
   Change:         -3.2%         0.0%        -1.6%       -2.6%
  22-Mar-25     558,000        2,000    2,424,000      42,000
   Change:         -9.0%       150.0%         2.8%       -9.5%
  2026 YTD    6,019,000       27,000   28,668,000     424,000
  2025 YTD    6,672,000       31,000   28,965,000     419,000
   Change:         -9.8%       -12.7%        -1.0%        1.2%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  21-Mar-26   Estimate          1473          348         293       123
  14-Mar-26   Estimate          1469          343         292       123
  22-Mar-25     Actual          1430          330         291       130
            Dressed:
  21-Mar-26   Estimate           898          205         218        62
  14-Mar-26   Estimate           896          202         218        62
  22-Mar-25     Actual           871          194         217        66
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  07-Mar-26       49.9%        30.3%        18.5%        1.3%
  08-Mar-25       46.9%        33.6%        18.0%        1.5%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  07-Mar-26       97.4%                      2.4%                  0.2%
  08-Mar-25       97.2%                      2.6%                  0.2%

*2025 slaughter totals adjusted to reflect NASS revisions
Source:  USDA Livestock, Poultry, and Grain Market News Division, St Joseph, MO
         816-676-7000   e-mail:  stjoe.lpgmn@ams.usda.gov
         www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/SJ_LS710.txt
         www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/livestock-poultry-grain

1300C

[0600059D]