USDA Total Red Meat Under Fed Inspct 08/28 13:11

SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri Aug 28, 2026          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, August 29, 2026 was estimated at 992.4 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 2.6 percent higher than a week ago and 0.5 percent lower
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
2.4 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)
  29-Aug-26       478.8          1.0        510.6         2.0     992.4
  22-Aug-26       461.8          1.0        502.2         1.9     966.9
   Change:          3.7%         0.0%         1.7%        5.3%      2.6%
  30-Aug-25       494.1          0.4        500.8         2.2     997.5
   Change:         -3.1%       150.0%         2.0%       -9.1%     -0.5%
  2026 YTD      16019.4         12.9      17935.9        74.0   34042.2
  2025 YTD      16934.6         16.2      17861.7        81.0   34893.5
   Change:         -5.4%       -20.3%         0.4%       -8.6%     -2.4%
(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
  29-Aug-26     542,000        5,000    2,411,000      35,000
  22-Aug-26     523,000        5,000    2,366,000      34,000
   Change:          3.6%         0.0%         1.9%        2.9%
  30-Aug-25     567,000        2,000    2,387,000      37,000
   Change:         -4.4%       150.0%         1.0%       -5.4%
  2026 YTD   17,945,000       63,000   82,690,000   1,237,000
  2025 YTD   19,477,000       81,000   83,227,000   1,285,000
   Change:         -7.9%       -22.4%        -0.6%       -3.8%
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  29-Aug-26   Estimate          1438          371         284       110
  22-Aug-26   Estimate          1437          376         285       111
  30-Aug-25     Actual          1420          347         281       114
            Dressed:
  29-Aug-26   Estimate           885          219         212        56
  22-Aug-26   Estimate           885          222         212        57
  30-Aug-25     Actual           874          205         210        58
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  15-Aug-26       53.9%        28.0%        16.6%        1.5%
  16-Aug-25       51.1%        30.1%        17.0%        1.7%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  15-Aug-26       97.6%                      2.2%                  0.2%
  16-Aug-25       97.6%                      2.2%                  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]