Livestock Slaughter - Monthly - 2023

Livestock Slaughter
ISSN: 0499-0544
Released July 20, 2023, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).

Record Low Veal and Lamb and Mutton Production in June
June 2022 contained 22 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.
June 2023 contained 22 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.55 billion pounds in June, down 4 percent from the
4.73 billion pounds produced in June 2022.
Beef production, at 2.33 billion pounds, was 5 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.89 million
head, down 5 percent from June 2022. The average live weight was down 1 pound from the previous year, at
1,338 pounds.
Veal production totaled 3.9 million pounds, 15 percent below June a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 23,400 head, down
20 percent from June 2022. The average live weight was up 12 pounds from last year, at 283 pounds.
Pork production totaled 2.20 billion pounds, down 2 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.4 million
head, down 1 percent from June 2022. The average live weight was down 4 pounds from the previous year, at 284 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 10.9 million pounds, was down 5 percent from June 2022. Sheep slaughter totaled
177,300 head, 2 percent above last year. The average live weight was 122 pounds, down 9 pounds from June a year ago.
January to June 2023 commercial red meat production was 27.3 billion pounds, down 2 percent from 2022.
Accumulated beef production was down 4 percent from last year, veal was down 12 percent, pork was up 1 percent from
last year, and lamb and mutton production was up slightly.

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2

Livestock Slaughter (July 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Contents
Commercial Red Meat Production – United States .............................................................................................................. 4
Federally Inspected Red Meat Production – United States................................................................................................... 4
Livestock Slaughter and Average Live Weight – United States ........................................................................................... 5
Commercial Red Meat Production – States and United States ............................................................................................. 6
Commercial Cattle Slaughter – States and United States: June 2022 and 2023 .................................................................... 7
Commercial Calf Slaughter – States and United States: June 2022 and 2023....................................................................... 8
Commercial Hog Slaughter – States and United States: June 2022 and 2023....................................................................... 9
Commercial Sheep and Lamb Slaughter – States and United States: June 2022 and 2023 ................................................. 10
Livestock Slaughtered Under Federal Inspection by Class – United States ........................................................................ 11
Federally Inspected Slaughter Average Dressed Weight by Class – United States............................................................. 11
Federally Inspected Slaughter – Regions and United States: June 2023............................................................................. 12
Federally Inspected Slaughter – Regions and United States: January to June 2023............................................................ 13
Federally Inspected Slaughter Percent of Total Commercial Slaughter – United States ..................................................... 13
Terms and Definitions Used for Livestock Slaughter Estimates ........................................................................................ 14
Statistical Methodology ..................................................................................................................................................... 15
Information Contacts ......................................................................................................................................................... 16

Livestock Slaughter (July 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

3

Commercial Red Meat Production – United States
[Totals, accumulated totals, and percentages based on unrounded data]
Type

June
2022

May
2023

June
2023

Beef ................................
Veal .................................
Pork ................................
Lamb and mutton ...........

(million
pounds)
2,456.0
4.6
2,255.6
11.5

(million
pounds)
2,305.8
4.2
2,271.3
11.4

(million
pounds)
2,334.9
3.9
2,202.2
10.9

Total red meat ................

4,727.7

4,592.7

4,551.9

June 2023 as % of

January to June

June
2022

May
2023

(percent)

(percent)

2022

95
85
98
95

101
94
97
95

(million
pounds)
14,095.1
27.3
13,543.1
66.1

96

99

27,731.6

2023
(million
pounds)
13,531.7
24.0
13,663.5
66.3
27,285.5

2023 as %
of 2022
(percent)
96
88
101
100
98

Federally Inspected Red Meat Production – United States
[Totals, accumulated totals, and percentages based on unrounded data]
Type

June
2022

May
2023

June
2023

(million
pounds)

(million
pounds)

(million
pounds)

June 2023 as % of

January to June

June
2022

May
2023

2022

2023

2023 as %
of 2022

(percent)

(percent)

(million
pounds)

(million
pounds)

(percent)

Beef ................................
Veal .................................
Pork ................................
Lamb and mutton ...........

2,415.1
4.5
2,245.1
10.2

2,269.3
4.1
2,261.4
9.9

2,300.6
3.8
2,192.5
9.5

95
85
98
94

101
93
97
97

13,862.4
26.5
13,483.8
58.7

13,318.8
23.3
13,606.3
59.2

96
88
101
101

Total red meat ................

4,674.8

4,544.6

4,506.4

96

99

27,431.4

27,007.7

98

4

Livestock Slaughter (July 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Livestock Slaughter and Average Live Weight – United States
[Totals, accumulated totals, and percentages based on unrounded data]
Species

June
2022

May
2023

June
2023 as %
of 2022

June
2023

January to June
2022

2023 as %
of 2022

2023

(percent)
Cattle
Number of head
Federally inspected ..... 1,000
Other ............................ 1,000
Commercial ................. 1,000
Average live weight
Federally inspected .. pounds
Other ......................... pounds
Commercial .............. pounds
Calves
Number of head
Federally inspected ..... 1,000
Other ............................ 1,000
Commercial ................. 1,000
Average live weight
Federally inspected .. pounds
Other ......................... pounds
Commercial .............. pounds
Hogs
Number of head
Federally inspected ..... 1,000
Other ............................ 1,000
Commercial ................. 1,000
Average live weight
Federally inspected .. pounds
Other ......................... pounds
Commercial .............. pounds
Sheep and lambs
Number of head
Federally inspected ..... 1,000
Other ............................ 1,000
Commercial ................. 1,000
Average live weight
Federally inspected .. pounds
Other ......................... pounds
Commercial .............. pounds
Goats
Number of head
Federally inspected ..... 1,000
Other ............................ 1,000
Commercial ................. 1,000
Average live weight
Federally inspected .. pounds
Other ......................... pounds
Commercial .............. pounds
Bison
Number of head
Federally inspected ..... 1,000
Other ............................ 1,000
Commercial ................. 1,000

2,984.8
59.9
3,044.7

2,786.6
53.1
2,839.7

2,844.1
50.2
2,894.2

1,342
1,198
1,339

1,352
1,212
1,349

1,341
1,207
1,338

28.6
0.6
29.1
268
386
271

10,450.6
54.8
10,505.4

23.8
0.5
24.2
291
377
292

10,533.4
50.3
10,583.8

22.9
0.5
23.4
281
396
283

10,376.0
51.2
10,427.1

(percent)

95
84
95

16,741.6
337.7
17,079.3

16,280.5
311.2
16,591.7

97
92
97

100
101
100

1,376
1,216
1,373

1,363
1,212
1,360

99
100
99

80
95
80
105
103
105

99
93
99

176.3
3.8
180.0

148.7
3.3
152.0

260
376
262

269
374
271

61,924.1
298.2
62,222.3

63,058.6
291.9
63,350.5

84
88
84
104
99
103

102
98
102

288
263
288

289
272
289

284
261
284

99
100
99

292
272
292

290
270
290

99
99
99

147.4
26.8
174.2

154.6
31.9
186.5

148.4
28.8
177.3

101
108
102

871.2
152.7
1,023.9

921.4
144.4
1,065.8

106
95
104

137
98
131

126
99
121

127
95
122

93
97
93

133
97
128

127
97
123

95
100
96

39.6
8.1
47.7

44.2
6.6
50.8

43.4
9.4
52.9

110
116
111

242.5
51.6
294.0

256.2
45.5
301.7

106
88
103

64
86
68

64
88
67

65
85
68

101
99
101

64
85
68

65
86
68

101
100
100

99
103
99

36.0
1.5
37.5

38.6
1.6
40.2

107
104
107

6.4
0.3
6.6

Livestock Slaughter (July 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

6.5
0.2
6.7

6.3
0.3
6.6

5

Commercial Red Meat Production – States and United States
[Includes total beef, veal, pork, lamb, and mutton. Totals and percentages based on unrounded data]
State

June
2022

May
2023

June
2023

June 2023 as
% of 2022

(million pounds)

(million pounds)

(million pounds)

(percent)

Alabama .................................................
Alaska .....................................................
Arizona ...................................................
Arkansas ................................................
California ................................................
Colorado .................................................
Delaware-Maryland ...............................
Florida .....................................................
Georgia ...................................................
Hawaii .....................................................

1.3
(Y)
42.9
0.5
152.6
180.9
3.0
8.4
14.2
1.0

1.2
(Y)
40.5
0.5
114.2
169.0
2.9
7.9
13.1
0.7

1.2
(Y)
40.9
0.5
116.3
171.4
2.7
7.3
15.0
0.8

87
(X)
95
102
76
95
89
88
105
81

Idaho .......................................................
Illinois ......................................................
Indiana ....................................................
Iowa ........................................................
Kansas ...................................................
Kentucky .................................................
Louisiana ................................................
Michigan .................................................
Minnesota ...............................................
Mississippi ..............................................

36.5
260.4
150.6
721.6
526.7
50.9
0.5
104.6
251.9
0.9

34.5
269.8
152.8
770.0
491.0
50.7
0.4
111.3
238.9
0.9

37.8
258.8
156.9
701.9
502.6
47.7
0.3
109.3
225.1
0.8

103
99
104
97
95
94
58
105
89
89

Missouri ..................................................
Montana .................................................
Nebraska ................................................
Nevada ...................................................
New England 1 .......................................
New Jersey ............................................
New Mexico ............................................
New York ................................................
North Carolina ........................................
North Dakota ..........................................

174.6
6.0
679.0
0.1
3.1
3.9
0.3
3.7
254.6
0.9

165.8
3.1
622.2
0.1
2.8
4.1
0.4
3.4
269.6
0.7

162.5
2.8
654.5
0.1
2.9
3.8
0.4
3.5
262.2
0.7

93
46
96
126
94
99
115
93
103
79

Ohio ........................................................
Oklahoma ...............................................
Oregon ...................................................
Pennsylvania ..........................................
South Carolina .......................................
South Dakota .........................................
Tennessee .............................................
Texas ......................................................
Utah ........................................................
Virginia ...................................................

22.9
104.8
4.2
129.7
15.7
118.1
25.9
430.3
47.1
1.6

24.7
108.0
2.7
132.3
16.6
116.8
24.8
389.3
46.4
1.4

24.8
109.9
2.8
134.8
16.5
112.0
27.2
393.1
47.5
1.4

108
105
66
104
105
95
105
91
101
87

Washington ............................................
West Virginia ..........................................
Wisconsin ...............................................
Wyoming ................................................

81.4
0.7
108.8
0.9

84.0
0.8
101.5
0.9

83.2
0.8
106.5
0.8

102
122
98
81

United States .........................................

4,727.7

4,592.7

4,551.9

96

(X) Not applicable.
(Y) Less than level of precision shown.
1
New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

6

Livestock Slaughter (July 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Commercial Cattle Slaughter – States and United States: June 2022 and 2023
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
State

Slaughtered

Total live weight

Average live weight

2022

2023

2022

2023

2022

2023

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

Alabama ..................................
Alaska .....................................
Arizona ....................................
Arkansas .................................
California .................................
Colorado .................................
Delaware-Maryland ................
Florida .....................................
Georgia ...................................
Hawaii .....................................

1.3
(Y)
50.4
0.8
145.3
210.7
3.0
13.5
(D)
1.5

1.0
(Y)
46.5
0.8
134.0
200.7
2.7
11.9
(D)
1.1

1,419
(X)
68,976
746
194,747
283,341
4,357
16,341
(D)
1,687

1,131
(X)
65,541
791
181,056
269,234
3,797
14,385
(D)
1,346

1,091
(X)
1,372
958
1,349
1,346
1,443
1,211
(D)
1,147

1,118
(X)
1,413
1,030
1,360
1,342
1,420
1,212
(D)
1,188

Idaho .......................................
Illinois ......................................
Indiana ....................................
Iowa .........................................
Kansas ....................................
Kentucky .................................
Louisiana .................................
Michigan ..................................
Minnesota ...............................
Mississippi ...............................

50.2
(D)
4.7
47.9
603.3
6.3
0.8
(D)
(D)
0.8

51.7
(D)
4.0
48.8
580.4
6.6
0.5
(D)
(D)
0.6

63,993
(D)
5,707
64,383
816,537
6,884
705
(D)
(D)
785

65,614
(D)
4,775
65,783
778,320
7,151
435
(D)
(D)
617

1,284
(D)
1,215
1,346
1,354
1,105
891
(D)
(D)
967

1,276
(D)
1,207
1,347
1,341
1,097
852
(D)
(D)
951

Missouri ...................................
Montana ..................................
Nebraska .................................
Nevada ....................................
New England 1 ........................
New Jersey .............................
New Mexico ............................
New York ................................
North Carolina ........................
North Dakota ...........................

28.4
7.3
634.5
0.1
3.5
4.1
0.4
4.2
8.8
1.2

23.9
3.3
614.2
0.1
3.0
4.3
0.5
4.1
8.7
0.9

32,104
9,106
876,720
82
4,256
4,659
473
5,189
10,917
1,414

29,042
4,088
844,756
100
3,678
4,754
519
4,932
10,762
1,119

1,131
1,256
1,383
1,173
1,213
1,141
1,063
1,239
1,239
1,226

1,216
1,251
1,377
1,174
1,210
1,116
1,108
1,217
1,237
1,222

Ohio .........................................
Oklahoma ................................
Oregon ....................................
Pennsylvania ..........................
South Carolina ........................
South Dakota ..........................
Tennessee ..............................
Texas ......................................
Utah .........................................
Virginia ....................................

7.4
7.6
2.8
94.5
23.6
42.4
4.0
546.3
54.4
1.6

6.4
6.1
1.9
96.0
24.2
39.4
3.9
501.2
54.0
1.7

9,762
8,914
3,138
119,387
30,483
59,193
4,148
704,732
73,325
1,784

8,410
7,257
2,349
122,205
32,296
54,472
3,928
643,987
74,544
1,811

1,323
1,169
1,132
1,269
1,298
1,402
1,044
1,293
1,348
1,092

1,325
1,194
1,238
1,278
1,342
1,391
1,022
1,288
1,381
1,095

Washington .............................
West Virginia ...........................
Wisconsin ................................
Wyoming .................................

98.1
0.8
117.4
1.2

98.1
0.9
112.9
0.9

133,424
918
163,321
1,376

135,866
1,060
157,084
1,071

1,363
1,184
1,398
1,155

1,388
1,189
1,401
1,139

United States ..........................

3,044.7

2,894.2

4,068,959

3,865,647

1,339

1,338

(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(X) Not applicable.
(Y) Less than level of precision shown.
1
New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Livestock Slaughter (July 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

7

Commercial Calf Slaughter – States and United States: June 2022 and 2023
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
State

Slaughtered

Total live weight

Average live weight

2022

2023

2022

2023

2022

2023

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

Alabama ..................................
Alaska ......................................
Arizona ....................................
Arkansas .................................
California .................................
Colorado ..................................
Delaware-Maryland ................
Florida ......................................
Georgia ....................................
Hawaii ......................................

(Y)
(D)
(D)
(D)
3.1
(D)
(D)
0.1
0.2
(D)

(Y)
(Y)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
0.1
(D)

(X)
(D)
(D)
(D)
382
(D)
(D)
63
97
(D)

(X)
(X)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
55
(D)

(X)
(D)
(D)
(D)
129
(D)
(D)
438
474
(D)

(X)
(X)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
487
(D)

Idaho ........................................
Illinois .......................................
Indiana .....................................
Iowa .........................................
Kansas ....................................
Kentucky ..................................
Louisiana .................................
Michigan ..................................
Minnesota ................................
Mississippi ...............................

(D)
0.1
0.6
(D)
(Y)
(Y)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(Y)

(D)
0.1
0.5
(D)
(Y)
(Y)
(Y)
(D)
(Y)
(D)

(D)
37
249
(D)
(X)
(X)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(X)

(D)
20
231
(D)
(X)
(X)
(X)
(D)
(X)
(D)

(D)
335
394
(D)
(X)
(X)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(X)

(D)
370
443
(D)
(X)
(X)
(X)
(D)
(X)
(D)

Missouri ...................................
Montana ..................................
Nebraska .................................
Nevada ....................................
New England 1 ........................
New Jersey .............................
New Mexico .............................
New York .................................
North Carolina .........................
North Dakota ...........................

(D)
(Y)
(D)
(D)
0.2
1.4
(D)
3.5
0.1
(D)

(D)
(Y)
(D)
(D)
0.1
1.2
(D)
3.2
0.1
(D)

(D)
(X)
(D)
(D)
47
522
(D)
359
28
(D)

(D)
(X)
(D)
(D)
32
452
(D)
301
18
(D)

(D)
(X)
(D)
(D)
233
373
(D)
104
323
(D)

(D)
(X)
(D)
(D)
225
378
(D)
94
284
(D)

Ohio .........................................
Oklahoma ................................
Oregon ....................................
Pennsylvania ...........................
South Carolina ........................
South Dakota ..........................
Tennessee ..............................
Texas .......................................
Utah .........................................
Virginia ....................................

6.1
(Y)
(D)
7.5
(D)
(D)
(D)
0.2
(D)
0.2

4.2
(Y)
(D)
6.3
(D)
(D)
(Y)
0.1
(D)
0.1

1,119
(X)
(D)
3,329
(D)
(D)
(D)
85
(D)
53

1,100
(X)
(D)
2,761
(D)
(D)
(X)
41
(D)
19

185
(X)
(D)
442
(D)
(D)
(D)
423
(D)
269

261
(X)
(D)
437
(D)
(D)
(X)
388
(D)
282

Washington .............................
West Virginia ...........................
Wisconsin ................................
Wyoming .................................

(Y)
(Y)
2.3
(D)

(D)
(Y)
1.9
(D)

(X)
(X)
1,059
(D)

(D)
(X)
907
(D)

(X)
(X)
465
(D)

(D)
(X)
475
(D)

United States ..........................

29.1

23.4

7,831

6,597

271

283

(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(X) Not applicable.
(Y) Less than level of precision shown.
1
New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

8

Livestock Slaughter (July 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Commercial Hog Slaughter – States and United States: June 2022 and 2023
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
State

Slaughtered

Total live weight

Average live weight

2022

2023

2022

2023

2022

2023

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

Alabama ..................................
Alaska .....................................
Arizona ....................................
Arkansas .................................
California .................................
Colorado .................................
Delaware-Maryland ................
Florida .....................................
Georgia ...................................
Hawaii .....................................

2.0
0.1
0.1
0.4
212.1
2.7
1.7
7.1
5.0
0.2

1.9
(Y)
0.1
0.4
78.8
3.1
1.6
4.7
5.4
0.2

854
26
21
108
54,506
438
438
796
1,400
53

810
(X)
16
108
17,187
463
433
533
1,513
42

424
266
313
253
257
160
262
112
280
259

423
(X)
265
268
219
149
265
112
278
255

Idaho .......................................
Illinois ......................................
Indiana ....................................
Iowa .........................................
Kansas ....................................
Kentucky .................................
Louisiana .................................
Michigan ..................................
Minnesota ...............................
Mississippi ...............................

14.3
890.9
708.5
3,217.3
(D)
(D)
0.3
280.5
1,047.3
3.4

12.1
931.4
748.1
3,189.3
(D)
(D)
0.2
322.9
962.6
3.3

3,870
255,344
195,652
919,591
(D)
(D)
64
82,193
288,835
560

2,869
262,335
204,970
894,588
(D)
(D)
46
92,898
262,473
564

271
287
276
286
(D)
(D)
232
293
276
165

238
282
274
281
(D)
(D)
237
288
273
173

Missouri ...................................
Montana ..................................
Nebraska .................................
Nevada ....................................
New England 1 ........................
New Jersey .............................
New Mexico ............................
New York ................................
North Carolina ........................
North Dakota ...........................

719.8
1.7
648.6
(Y)
2.5
8.4
0.2
2.9
(D)
0.2

690.7
1.8
625.2
(Y)
2.7
7.9
0.2
1.9
(D)
0.2

210,501
462
184,699
(X)
627
813
47
675
(D)
56

197,209
521
176,294
(X)
719
812
49
463
(D)
70

293
272
285
(X)
254
97
255
235
(D)
306

286
293
282
(X)
265
103
241
242
(D)
294

Ohio .........................................
Oklahoma ................................
Oregon ....................................
Pennsylvania ..........................
South Carolina ........................
South Dakota ..........................
Tennessee ..............................
Texas ......................................
Utah .........................................
Virginia ....................................

77.1
445.2
10.0
275.2
2.3
(D)
78.6
22.6
(D)
(D)

90.8
493.2
5.9
287.9
2.0
(D)
82.6
22.6
1.9
1.1

22,325
131,975
2,699
76,838
573
(D)
35,267
4,611
(D)
(D)

25,891
139,378
1,395
81,344
493
(D)
37,599
4,979
427
313

290
296
270
279
248
(D)
449
204
(D)
(D)

285
283
239
283
247
(D)
456
221
221
295

Washington .............................
West Virginia ...........................
Wisconsin ................................
Wyoming .................................

1.9
0.5
69.5
0.5

(D)
0.6
75.5
0.5

480
140
30,246
136

(D)
182
33,351
139

249
305
436
265

(D)
294
442
255

United States ..........................

10,505.4

10,427.1

3,024,004

2,960,712

288

284

(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(X) Not applicable.
(Y) Less than level of precision shown.
1
New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Livestock Slaughter (July 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

9

Commercial Sheep and Lamb Slaughter – States and United States: June 2022 and 2023
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
State

Slaughtered

Total live weight

Average live weight

2022

2023

2022

2023

2022

2023

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 pounds)

(1,000 pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

Alabama ..................................
Alaska ......................................
Arizona ....................................
Arkansas .................................
California .................................
Colorado ..................................
Delaware-Maryland ................
Florida ......................................
Georgia ....................................
Hawaii ......................................

(D)
(Y)
0.3
0.1
24.1
36.0
2.2
2.3
1.6
0.1

0.1
(Y)
0.6
0.1
24.1
32.7
2.3
2.4
(D)
0.1

(D)
(X)
26
11
3,812
6,364
212
123
96
17

8
(X)
63
7
3,552
5,505
223
120
(D)
20

(D)
(X)
101
108
158
177
97
52
58
137

86
(X)
102
118
147
168
95
50
(D)
140

Idaho ........................................
Illinois .......................................
Indiana .....................................
Iowa .........................................
Kansas ....................................
Kentucky ..................................
Louisiana .................................
Michigan ..................................
Minnesota ................................
Mississippi ...............................

0.1
5.4
5.8
0.1
0.4
1.2
0.6
(D)
0.5
0.1

0.2
4.7
7.1
0.3
0.4
1.4
0.7
(D)
0.6
0.1

18
491
659
23
34
136
34
(D)
43
7

36
376
763
40
35
155
38
(D)
43
5

152
91
114
160
77
118
54
(D)
81
63

152
81
108
136
98
107
56
(D)
77
68

Missouri ...................................
Montana ..................................
Nebraska .................................
Nevada ....................................
New England 1 ........................
New Jersey .............................
New Mexico .............................
New York .................................
North Carolina .........................
North Dakota ...........................

0.6
0.9
(Y)
(Y)
3.6
14.8
0.4
4.7
1.9
0.1

0.8
0.5
(Y)
0.1
4.7
14.5
0.5
5.6
2.9
0.1

49
124
(X)
(X)
355
1,258
54
508
137
6

82
63
(X)
8
482
1,187
72
491
180
12

78
135
(X)
(X)
99
85
143
109
72
114

97
138
(X)
142
102
82
143
87
61
126

Ohio .........................................
Oklahoma ................................
Oregon ....................................
Pennsylvania ...........................
South Carolina ........................
South Dakota ..........................
Tennessee ..............................
Texas .......................................
Utah .........................................
Virginia ....................................

3.8
(D)
4.1
8.2
(D)
0.2
(D)
25.8
1.4
1.2

4.3
(D)
4.3
10.2
(D)
0.2
(D)
22.3
1.3
0.9

622
(D)
622
896
(D)
23
(D)
2,851
203
79

710
(D)
684
1,018
(D)
21
(D)
2,226
181
65

165
(D)
152
109
(D)
102
(D)
111
144
63

164
(D)
160
100
(D)
119
(D)
100
136
71

Washington .............................
West Virginia ...........................
Wisconsin ................................
Wyoming .................................

1.1
(D)
2.7
0.2

1.4
(D)
3.1
0.1

153
(D)
463
24

187
(D)
428
8

135
(D)
170
115

136
(D)
138
124

United States ..........................

174.2

177.3

22,785

21,609

131

122

(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(X) Not applicable.
(Y) Less than level of precision shown.
1
New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

10

Livestock Slaughter (July 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Livestock Slaughtered Under Federal Inspection by Class – United States
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
Class

January to June

June
2022

May
2023

June
2023

2022

2023

June
2022

(1,000
head)

(1,000
head)

(1,000
head)

(1,000
head)

(1,000
head)

May
2023

January to June

June
2023

(percent of (percent of (percent of
total)
total)
total)

2022

2023

(percent of
total)

(percent of
total)

Cattle
Steers ....................
Heifers ...................
All cows .................
Dairy cows ............
Other cows ............
Bulls .......................

1,456.8
891.1
585.2
233.0
352.2
51.6

1,341.3
847.1
549.8
249.1
300.8
48.3

1,383.0
850.9
559.8
255.7
304.1
50.4

7,918.7
5,063.0
3,484.0
1,520.6
1,963.4
275.9

7,607.1
5,061.8
3,354.5
1,618.9
1,735.6
257.0

48.8
29.9
19.6
7.8
11.8
1.7

48.1
30.4
19.7
8.9
10.8
1.7

48.6
29.9
19.7
9.0
10.7
1.8

47.3
30.2
20.8
9.1
11.7
1.6

46.7
31.1
20.6
9.9
10.7
1.6

Total ......................

2,984.8

2,786.6

2,844.1

16,741.6

16,280.5

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Calves and
vealers .................

28.6

23.8

22.9

176.3

148.7

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Hogs
Barrows and
gilts ....................
Sows ......................
Boars .....................

10,155.8
267.6
27.2

10,231.7
274.7
27.0

10,058.8
291.3
25.9

60,247.1
1,529.3
147.7

61,330.3
1,574.6
153.7

97.2
2.6
0.3

97.1
2.6
0.3

96.9
2.8
0.2

97.3
2.5
0.2

97.3
2.5
0.2

Total ......................

10,450.6

10,533.4

10,376.0

61,924.1

63,058.6

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Sheep
Mature
sheep ................
Lambs and
yearlings ...........

8.9

10.3

10.1

54.0

57.0

6.1

6.7

6.8

6.2

6.2

138.4

144.3

138.3

817.2

864.4

93.9

93.3

93.2

93.8

93.8

Total ......................

147.4

154.6

148.4

871.2

921.4

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Federally Inspected Slaughter Average Dressed Weight by Class – United States
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
Class

January to June

June
2022

May
2023

June
2023

2022

2023

(pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

(pounds)

Cattle ...............................................................
Steers 1 ............................................................
Heifers 1 ...........................................................
All cows 1 ..........................................................
Bulls 1 ...............................................................

811
881
812
626
891

816
888
819
628
890

811
884
809
623
903

830
906
836
643
880

820
896
824
635
873

Calves and vealers ........................................

157

172

166

152

158

Hogs ................................................................
Barrows and gilts 2 ...........................................
Sows 2 ..............................................................
Boars 2 ..............................................................

215
213
303
195

215
213
300
194

211
209
303
195

218
216
298
193

216
214
298
193

Sheep ..............................................................
Mature sheep 3 ................................................
Lambs and yearlings 3 .....................................

69
64
69

64
64
64

64
65
64

67
64
68

64
64
64

1
2
3

Included in cattle average dressed weight.
Included in hog average dressed weight.
Included in sheep average dressed weight.

Livestock Slaughter (July 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

11

Federally Inspected Slaughter – Regions and United States: June 2023
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
Standard
federal
regions 1

Cattle
Total

Steers

Heifers

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

1 ....................................
2 ....................................
3 ....................................
4 ....................................
5 ....................................
6 ....................................
7 ....................................
8 ....................................
9 ....................................
10 ..................................

2.7
8.2
98.7
82.0
269.8
501.5
1,256.7
292.6
181.0
150.9

1.1
2.3
40.4
5.5
123.7
205.0
698.7
170.6
75.0
60.7

United States ...............

2,844.1

1,383.0

Calves
Cows

Bulls

Total

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

0.2
3.3
36.8
13.4
66.2
35.2
6.1
6.3
56.7
31.5

0.2
0.4
11.8
52.6
37.5
76.6
70.2
15.2
17.9
21.8

0.4
0.3
6.0
7.8
(D)
9.5
8.3
(D)
3.3
3.1

0.1
4.4
6.5
0.3
6.7
(D)
(Y)
(Y)
(D)
(D)

255.7

304.1

50.4

22.9

All

Dairy

Other

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

0.8
1.9
3.7
2.9
(D)
175.2
473.4
(D)
28.0
33.8

0.4
3.7
48.6
65.9
103.6
111.8
76.4
21.5
74.6
53.3

850.9

559.8

Hogs

Sheep

Total

Barrows
and gilts

Sows

Boars

Total

Mature
sheep

Lambs and
yearlings

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

1 ....................................
2 ....................................
3 ....................................
4 ....................................
5 ....................................
6 ....................................
7 ....................................
8 ....................................
9 ....................................
10 ..................................

2.5
9.7
289.6
(D)
3,108.0
512.5
4,519.3
(D)
75.5
19.1

2.4
9.7
289.3
(D)
2,975.5
512.3
4,424.8
(D)
75.5
19.0

(Y)
(Y)
(D)
82.8
127.9
(D)
79.8
0.3
(Y)
(Y)

(Y)
(Y)
(D)
(D)
4.5
(D)
14.7
(Y)
(Y)
(Y)

4.7
19.0
14.4
11.8
28.0
8.8
0.9
33.8
22.5
4.7

0.4
1.6
1.3
1.0
2.4
(D)
(D)
0.9
1.6
0.2

4.2
17.4
13.0
10.8
25.6
(D)
(D)
32.9
20.9
4.5

United States ...............

10,376.0

10,058.8

291.3

25.9

148.4

10.1

138.3

(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(Y) Less than level of precision shown.
1
States included in regions are as follows: 1 - Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont; 2 - New Jersey, New
York; 3 - Delaware-Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia; 4 - Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Tennessee; 5 - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin; 6 - Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas; 7 - Iowa,
Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska; 8- Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming; 9 - Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada; 10 Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington.

12

Livestock Slaughter (July 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Federally Inspected Slaughter – Regions and United States: January to June 2023
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
Standard
federal
regions 1

Cattle
Total

Steers

Heifers

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

1 ....................................
2 ....................................
3 ....................................
4 ....................................
5 ....................................
6 ....................................
7 ....................................
8 ....................................
9 ....................................
10 ..................................

15.7
47.5
578.1
451.4
1,587.9
2,872.2
7,121.9
1,657.9
1,086.9
860.9

6.2
14.3
229.8
29.5
724.9
1,220.5
3,791.2
865.1
444.3
281.3

United States ...............

16,280.5

7,607.1

Calves
Cows

Bulls

Total

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

1.5
17.9
227.6
84.1
372.8
224.2
44.4
30.5
401.5
214.6

1.0
2.0
62.0
274.1
236.0
440.2
413.2
108.2
77.1
121.7

1.5
1.6
32.8
47.2
(D)
52.9
42.0
(D)
12.5
15.1

1.0
30.1
40.4
2.9
44.5
(D)
0.3
(Y)
(D)
(D)

1,618.9

1,735.6

257.0

148.7

All

Dairy

Other

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

5.5
11.8
26.0
16.5
(D)
934.4
2,831.1
(D)
151.4
228.1

2.5
19.9
289.5
358.3
608.8
664.4
457.6
138.7
478.7
336.3

5,061.8

3,354.5

Hogs

Sheep

Total

Barrows
and gilts

Sows

Boars

Total

Mature
sheep

Lambs and
yearlings

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

1 .....................................
2 .....................................
3 .....................................
4 .....................................
5 .....................................
6 .....................................
7 .....................................
8 .....................................
9 .....................................
10 ...................................

12.1
60.3
1,649.6
(D)
18,978.8
2,898.0
27,829.8
(D)
558.5
110.0

11.9
59.9
1,647.9
(D)
18,256.3
2,896.5
27,314.8
(D)
558.3
109.7

0.1
0.3
(D)
447.4
689.4
(D)
431.3
3.3
0.2
0.2

0.1
0.1
(D)
(D)
33.1
(D)
83.7
0.2
(Y)
0.1

25.5
128.0
89.5
61.5
169.7
61.2
6.0
213.8
136.5
29.7

1.4
11.6
7.1
5.1
11.3
(D)
(D)
5.7
10.5
1.5

24.1
116.5
82.4
56.4
158.4
(D)
(D)
208.1
126.1
28.2

United States ................

63,058.6

61,330.3

1,574.6

153.7

921.4

57.0

864.4

(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
(Y) Less than level of precision shown.
1
States included in regions are as follows: 1 - Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont; 2 - New Jersey, New
York; 3 - Delaware-Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia; 4 - Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Tennessee; 5 - Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin; 6 - Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas; 7 - Iowa,
Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska; 8- Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming; 9 - Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada; 10 Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington.

Federally Inspected Slaughter Percent of Total Commercial Slaughter – United States
Species

June
2022

May
2023

(percent)
Cattle ...............................
Calves .............................
Hogs ................................
Sheep ..............................

Livestock Slaughter (July 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

(percent)
98.0
98.1
99.5
84.6

January to June

June
2023

2022

(percent)
98.1
98.1
99.5
82.9

2023

(percent)
98.3
97.8
99.5
83.7

(percent)
98.0
97.9
99.5
85.1

98.1
97.8
99.5
86.5

13

Terms and Definitions Used for Livestock Slaughter Estimates
Average Live Weight: The weight of the whole animal, before slaughter. Excludes post-mortem condemnations.
Commercial Production: Includes slaughter and meat production in federally inspected and other plants, but excludes
animals slaughtered on farms. Based on packers’ dressed weights.
Custom-Exempt Plants: Plants that do not sell meat but operate on a custom basis only are custom-exempt. The animals
and meat are not inspected, but the facilities must meet health standards. These are considered NFI plants and head kill is
included in NFI totals.
Dressed Weight: The weight of a chilled animal carcass. Beef with kidney knob in; veal with hide off; lamb and mutton
with pluck out; pork with leaf fat and kidneys out, jowls on and head off.
Dressing Percent: Usually expressed as a percentage yield of chilled carcass in relation to the weight of the live animal
on hoof. For example, a live hog that weighed 200 pounds on hoof and yielded a carcass weighing 140 pounds would
have a dressing percentage of 70.
Federally Inspected (FI) Plants: Plants that transport meat interstate must employ federal inspectors to assure
compliance with USDA standards. Any state whose commercial plants operate entirely under federal inspection may still
have custom-exempt establishments for which NFI estimates are made.
Food and Meat Inspection: Includes examination, checking, or testing of a carcass and/or meat against established
government standards and involves checking the facility for cleanliness, health of animals, or parts of animals and quality
of the meat produced.
Non-Federally Inspected (NFI) Plants: Plants which sell and transport only intrastate. State inspectors assure
compliance with individual state standards for these NFI plants. Mobile slaughtering units are excluded and are
considered farm slaughter.
Number of Head: Includes post-mortem condemnations.
Plant, Slaughter: An establishment where animals are killed and butchered.
Red Meat: Red meat production is the carcass weight after slaughter excluding condemnation and is comprised of beef,
veal, pork, and lamb and mutton. The FI red meat production is equal to the total carcass weight after slaughter. The NFI
meat production formula is (NFI head kill) X (live weight) X (FI dressing percentage) = NFI red meat production.
Slaughter: Killing and butchering of animals primarily for food.
Slaughter, Farm: Animals slaughtered on farms primarily for home consumption. Excludes custom slaughter for farmers
at commercial establishments, but includes mobile slaughtering on farms. These estimates appear only in the annual
slaughter release.
Talmedge-Aiken (TA) Plants: Slaughter plants in which USDA is responsible for inspection. However, federal
inspection is carried out by State employees. These plants are considered to be federally inspected.
Total Live Weight: The total weight of live animals, before slaughter. Excludes post-mortem condemnations.
Wholesome Meat Act: Legislation that specifies that all meat produced for sale in the United States must be inspected.
Meat that is transported interstate must be inspected in compliance with Federal (USDA) Standards.

14

Livestock Slaughter (July 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Statistical Methodology
Data Sources: Primary data for the Livestock Slaughter publication are obtained from electronic reports completed by
inspectors from the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), USDA, which provide daily counts of animals slaughtered
in Federally Inspected (FI) plants, in addition to total live and dressed weights. These counts are combined with data from
State-administered Non-Federally Inspected (NFI) slaughter plants to derive total commercial slaughter estimates.
There are approximately 950 livestock slaughter plants in the United States operating under Federal Inspection and nearly
1,950 Non-Federally Inspected (State-inspected or custom-exempt) slaughter plants. Slaughter from State-inspected
Talmedge-Aiken plants is included in FI totals (see Terms and Definitions, page 14). To prevent duplication in reporting
between FI and NFI plants and assure all FI plants are included, certificates prepared by FSIS identifying operating status
are constantly monitored.
Revision Policy: Number of head slaughtered, live weights, and dressed weights are subject to revision the following
month after the monthly release. Annual totals are published in the slaughter summary each April which includes any
revisions made to current and previous year’s published data. Revisions are generally the result of late reports received
from slaughter plants and are usually less than one-half of one percent. No revisions will be made to the previous year’s
data after the publication of the annual summary in April.
Procedures and Reliability: The livestock slaughter data is obtained electronically on a daily basis and summarized
approximately two weeks after the week of slaughter. A computer program compares each plant's data with the historical
data for that plant. Data are checked for unusual values for head kill, patterns of kill, average weights, and dressing
percent, based on each plant's past operating profile. In addition, the computer program provides a listing of missing
reports for follow-up contact with FSIS. Average live and dressed weights and dressing percentages by State are
compared with the previous weeks as an additional check. Fluctuations are frequently the result of plants permanently or
temporarily closing and a shift in the species reported.
The FSIS District Veterinary Medical Specialists (DVMS) are contacted by e-mail or telephone for missing or potentially
erroneous slaughter data. This assures that plants slaughtering a large number of head or several species are accounted for
each week. Any corrections FSIS makes to the slaughter data are included in the summary.
Computer imputation may be necessary for incomplete reports. The imputation of live and dressed weights is based on the
current week reported data of plants of similar size and location. Imputation for live and dressed weight data for cattle and
hogs is less than 10 percent and 7 percent, respectively. The imputation for calves and sheep is more frequent and
variable. If no data is received electronically or by other means, for plants slaughtering fewer than 50 total head weekly
of only one species, data are imputed. The imputation of head for any plant is based on the historical data for that
particular plant. The imputation of head slaughtered is rare but when necessary, the imputed head kill for missing plants
usually is less than 1 percent of the United States head kill totals.
FI data are summarized weekly and accumulated to a monthly total for this release. These weekly totals are published by
USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) in Livestock, Meat, Wool Market News, Weekly Summary, and
statistics are also available on the NASS website. NFI data are summarized monthly only.
Livestock slaughter estimates are based on a census of operating plants and therefore, have no sampling error. However,
they may be subject to non-sampling errors such as omissions, duplications and mistakes in reporting, recording and
processing the data. These errors are minimized through rigid quality controls in the computer edit program and
summarization process, and a careful review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness.
No data are published when an individual plant’s data could be divulged. If not published, as indicated with a (D), these
data are still included in United States and region totals. A review of the data is made annually to determi ne the
publishable data.

Livestock Slaughter (July 2023)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

15

Information Contacts
Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to
contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to [email protected].
Travis Averill, Chief, Livestock Branch ...................................................................................................... (202) 692-0069
Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section .......................................................................................................... (202) 690-2424
Sherry Bertramsen – Livestock Slaughter .............................................................................................. (202) 690-8632
Ryan Cowen – Cattle, Cattle on Feed .................................................................................................... (202) 720-3040
Kim Dapra – Milk Production and Milk Cows ....................................................................................... (512) 501-3266
Donnie Fike – Dairy Products ................................................................................................................ (202) 690-3347
Anthony Fischer – Hogs and Pigs .......................................................................................................... (202) 720-3106
Suzanne Richards – Sheep and Goats .................................................................................................... (202) 720-4448

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