The USDA says September beef and pork production were significantly lower than last year.
The beef total fell because of tighter market ready supplies, while the decline in pork production was down due a drop in average weights, along with a slightly slower slaughter rate. While both cow and heifer slaughter rates have slowed, it’s important to remember the size of the US cattle herd continues to shrink.
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 2 lighter.