USDA Total Red Meat Under Fed Inspct 05/01 13:11

SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri May 01, 2026          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, May 02, 2026 was estimated at 1017.5 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 0.1 percent lower than a week ago and 1.0 percent lower
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
3.4 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)
  02-May-26       480.4          0.9        534.3         1.9    1017.5
  25-Apr-26       475.9          0.9        539.3         2.0    1018.1
   Change:          1.0%         0.0%        -0.9%       -5.0%     -0.1%
  03-May-25       489.1          0.5        536.2         2.3    1028.1
   Change:         -1.8%        80.0%        -0.4%      -17.4%     -1.0%
  2026 YTD       8217.1          7.1       9481.1        39.9   17745.2
  2025 YTD       8838.3          8.5       9483.3        42.8   18372.9
   Change:         -7.0%       -16.4%         0.0%       -6.7%     -3.4%
(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
  02-May-26     534,000        5,000    2,446,000      33,000
  25-Apr-26     529,000        5,000    2,469,000      34,000
   Change:          0.9%         0.0%        -0.9%       -2.9%
  03-May-25     563,000        2,000    2,476,000      35,000
   Change:         -5.2%       150.0%        -1.2%       -5.7%
  2026 YTD    9,155,000       37,000   43,361,000     650,000
  2025 YTD   10,126,000       44,000   43,687,000     664,000
   Change:         -9.6%       -16.7%        -0.7%       -2.1%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  02-May-26   Estimate          1472          360         293       115
  25-Apr-26   Estimate          1473          362         293       117
  03-May-25     Actual          1424          363         291       130
            Dressed:
  02-May-26   Estimate           901          213         218        59
  25-Apr-26   Estimate           901          214         218        60
  03-May-25     Actual           871          217         217        66
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  18-Apr-26       48.0%        34.0%        16.5%        1.5%
  19-Apr-25       48.5%        34.0%        16.0%        1.5%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  18-Apr-26       97.8%                      2.0%                  0.2%
  19-Apr-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]