USDA Total Red Meat Under Fed Inspct 05/22 17:43

SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri May 22, 2026          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, May 23, 2026 was estimated at 984.5 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 1.4 percent lower than a week ago and 2.6 percent lower
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
3.2 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)
  23-May-26       474.4          1.1        507.0         2.0     984.5
  16-May-26       480.4          1.1        514.9         2.1     998.5
   Change:         -1.3%         0.0%        -1.5%       -4.8%     -1.4%
  24-May-25       501.5          0.5        506.0         2.6    1010.6
   Change:         -5.4%       120.0%         0.2%      -23.1%     -2.6%
  2026 YTD       9635.9          8.5      11032.4        46.2   20723.0
  2025 YTD      10320.1         10.0      11028.4        50.0   21408.5
   Change:         -6.6%       -14.9%         0.0%       -7.6%     -3.2%
(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
  23-May-26     528,000        5,000    2,321,000      33,000
  16-May-26     535,000        5,000    2,359,000      35,000
   Change:         -1.3%         0.0%        -1.6%       -5.7%
  24-May-25     576,000        2,000    2,356,000      39,000
   Change:         -8.3%       150.0%        -1.5%      -15.4%
  2026 YTD   10,736,000       42,000   50,465,000     753,000
  2025 YTD   11,829,000       51,000   50,867,000     776,000
   Change:         -9.2%       -18.1%        -0.8%       -3.0%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  23-May-26   Estimate          1469          376         293       116
  16-May-26   Estimate          1468          371         292       117
  24-May-25     Actual          1423          358         288       128
            Dressed:
  23-May-26   Estimate           901          223         219        59
  16-May-26   Estimate           900          219         218        60
  24-May-25     Actual           872          213         215        65
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  09-May-26       49.8%        31.7%        16.8%        1.6%
  10-May-25       48.3%        33.7%        16.5%        1.5%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  09-May-26       97.4%                      2.4%                  0.2%
  10-May-25       97.4%                      2.3%                  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]