USDA Total Red Meat Under Fed Inspct 03/27 13:11

SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri Mar 27, 2026          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, March 28, 2026 was estimated at 1022.3 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 2.4 percent higher than a week ago and 4.7 percent lower
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
3.8 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)
  28-Mar-26       467.6          1.1        551.1         2.5    1022.3
  21-Mar-26       450.8          1.0        544.1         2.4     998.3
   Change:          3.7%        10.0%         1.3%        4.2%      2.4%
  29-Mar-25       531.8          0.5        537.4         3.0    1072.7
   Change:        -12.1%       120.0%         2.5%      -16.7%     -4.7%
  2026 YTD       5858.0          5.8       6819.8        29.2   12712.8
  2025 YTD       6350.7          6.2       6826.6        30.1   13213.6
   Change:         -7.8%        -6.3%        -0.1%       -2.9%     -3.8%
(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
  28-Mar-26     520,000        5,000    2,524,000      40,000
  21-Mar-26     503,000        5,000    2,491,000      39,000
   Change:          3.4%         0.0%         1.3%        2.6%
  29-Mar-25     609,000        2,000    2,477,000      46,000
   Change:        -14.6%       150.0%         1.9%      -13.0%
  2026 YTD    6,535,000       29,000   31,172,000     466,000
  2025 YTD    7,280,000       33,000   31,441,000     465,000
   Change:        -10.2%       -13.0%        -0.9%        0.2%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  28-Mar-26   Estimate          1477          345         292       124
  21-Mar-26   Estimate          1473          348         293       123
  29-Mar-25     Actual          1432          332         291       129
            Dressed:
  28-Mar-26   Estimate           901          203         218        63
  21-Mar-26   Estimate           898          205         218        62
  29-Mar-25     Actual           876          195         217        65
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  14-Mar-26       48.6%        31.8%        18.1%        1.5%
  15-Mar-25       47.0%        33.8%        17.7%        1.5%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  14-Mar-26       97.4%                      2.3%                  0.2%
  15-Mar-25       97.4%                      2.4%                  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]