USDA Total Red Meat Under Fed Inspct 01/02 13:46

SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri Jan 02, 2026          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, January 03, 2026 was estimated at 913.5 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 11.9 percent higher than a week ago and 3.2 percent lower
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
41.4 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)
  03-Jan-26       423.7          0.7        487.1         2.0     913.5
  27-Dec-25       381.2          0.7        432.5         2.1     816.5
   Change:         11.2%         0.0%        12.6%       -4.8%     11.9%
  04-Jan-25       444.0          0.6        497.2         2.0     943.8
   Change:         -4.6%        16.7%        -2.0%        0.0%     -3.2%
  2026 YTD        133.2          0.2        189.8         0.4     323.6
  2025 YTD        248.0          0.3        303.0         0.8     552.1
   
(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
  03-Jan-26     474,000        4,000    2,228,000      34,000
  27-Dec-25     426,000        4,000    1,978,000      36,000
   Change:         11.3%         0.0%        12.6%       -5.6%
  04-Jan-25     505,000        3,000    2,270,000      33,000
   Change:         -6.1%        33.3%        -1.9%        3.0%
  2026 YTD      149,000        1,000      868,000       7,000
  2025 YTD      282,000        1,000    1,383,000      13,000

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  03-Jan-26   Estimate          1467          329         294       116
  27-Dec-25   Estimate          1467          370         294       115
  04-Jan-25     Actual          1447          321         294       121
            Dressed:
  03-Jan-26   Estimate           896          194         219        59
  27-Dec-25   Estimate           897          196         219        58
  04-Jan-25     Actual           881          191         219        61
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  20-Dec-25       50.4%        30.8%        17.4%        1.4%
  21-Dec-24       48.1%        33.3%        17.2%        1.5%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  20-Dec-25       97.3%                      2.5%                  0.2%
  21-Dec-24       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]