LIVESTOCK SLAUGHTER – 2015 ANNUAL U.S. Highlights

Total red meat production for the United States totaled 48.5 billion pounds in 2015, 2 percent higher than the previous year. Red meat includes beef, veal, pork, and lamb and mutton. Red meat production in commercial plants totaled 48.4 billion pounds.

On-farm slaughter totaled 87.8 million pounds.

Beef production totaled 23.8 billion pounds, down 2 percent from the previous year. Veal production totaled 87.8 million pounds, down 12 percent from last year. Pork production, at 24.5 billion pounds, was 7 percent above the previous year.

Lamb and mutton production totaled 155.6 million pounds, down 3 percent from 2014.

Commercial cattle slaughter during 2015 totaled 28.8 million head, down 5 percent from 2014, with federal inspection comprising 98.4 percent of the total. The average live weight was 1,360 pounds, up 30 pounds from a year ago. Steers comprised 54.2 percent of the total federally inspected cattle slaughter, heifers 26.0 percent, dairy cows 10.3 percent, other cows 7.9 percent, and bulls 1.6 percent.

Commercial calf slaughter totaled 452,600 head, 20 percent lower than a year ago with 98.4 percent under federal inspection. The average live weight was 310 pounds, up 27 pounds from a year earlier.

Commercial hog slaughter totaled 115.4 million head, 8 percent higher than 2014 with 99.3 percent of the hogs slaughtered under federal inspection. The average live weight was down 2 pounds from last year, at 283 pounds.

Barrows and gilts comprised 97.3 percent of the total federally inspected hog slaughter.

Commercial sheep and lamb slaughter, at 2.22 million head, was down 4 percent from the previous year with 89.9 percent by federal inspection. The average live weight was up 1 pound from 2014 at 136 pounds.

Lambs and yearlings comprised 94.3 percent of the total federally inspected sheep slaughter.

For a full copy of the Livestock Slaughter 2015 Summary report please visit www.nass.usda.gov.

April 20, 2016
Contact: Bill Meyer
(800) 392-3202