October 20, 2023

Decline in US beef, pork production in September

US beef and pork production in September were significantly lower than the same period last year, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.

Beef production fell due to tighter market ready supplies, while the decline in pork production was down due to a drop in average weights, along with a slightly slower slaughter rate.

Beef production was 2.149 billion pounds with a slaughter of 2.61 million head, both down 10%, while the average live weight was 1,362 pounds.

Pork totaled 2.186 billion pounds, 3% lower, with a slaughter of 10.487 million head, a decrease of 2%, and an average live weight of 281 pounds. The September total of 4.349 billion pounds was 2% less than last year.

September's dairy cow slaughter was 240,500 head, down 34,700 from August and 20,000 from September 2022. The year-to-date slaughter is 2,378,800 head.

For the first three quarters of 2023, US red meat production is 40.436 billion pounds, 2% slower than 2022.

- Brownfield