Livestock Slaughter 06/25/2026

Status: Original and derived artifacts are available for this document.

Download: pdf

Livestock Slaughter
ISSN: 0499-0544
Released June 25, 2026, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).

Commercial Red Meat Production Down 6 Percent from Last Year
May 2025 contained 22 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 5 Saturdays.
May 2026 contained 21 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 5 Saturdays.
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.10 billion pounds in May, down 6 percent from the
4.38 billion pounds produced in May 2025.
Beef production, at 1.95 billion pounds, was 8 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.18 million
head, down 11 percent from May 2025. The average live weight was up 42 pounds from the previous year, at
1,464 pounds.
Veal production totaled 1.5 million pounds, 33 percent below May a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 6,700 head, down
36 percent from May 2025. The average live weight was up 19 pounds from last year, at 381 pounds.
Pork production totaled 2.14 billion pounds, down 4 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 9.81 million
head, down 6 percent from May 2025. The average live weight was up 3 pounds from the previous year, at 292 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 9.4 million pounds, was down 19 percent from May 2025. Sheep slaughter totaled
167,500 head, 10 percent below last year. The average live weight was 110 pounds, down 12 pounds from May a year
ago.
January to May 2026 commercial red meat production was 21.8 billion pounds, down 3 percent from 2025.
Accumulated beef production was down 7 percent from last year, veal was down 27 percent, pork was down slightly from
last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 9 percent.

This page intentionally left blank.

2

Livestock Slaughter (June 2026)
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: May 2025 and 2026 ..................................................................... 7
Commercial Calf Slaughter – States and United States: May 2025 and 2026 ........................................................................ 8
Commercial Hog Slaughter – States and United States: May 2025 and 2026 ........................................................................ 9
Commercial Sheep and Lamb Slaughter – States and United States: May 2025 and 2026 .................................................. 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: May 2026 .............................................................................. 12
Federally Inspected Slaughter – Regions and United States: January to May 2026 ............................................................. 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 (June 2026)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

3

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

May
2025

April
2026

May
2026

(million
pounds)

(million
pounds)

(million
pounds)

May 2026 as % of

January to May

May
2025

April
2026

2025

2026

2026 as %
of 2025

(percent)

(percent)

(million
pounds)

(million
pounds)

(percent)

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

2,122.9
2.2
2,239.7
11.5

2,097.0
1.5
2,346.9
10.4

1,951.8
1.5
2,140.1
9.4

92
67
96
81

93
97
91
90

10,908.8
11.0
11,539.3
58.7

10,196.3
8.1
11,537.4
53.1

93
73
100
91

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

4,376.4

4,455.9

4,102.8

94

92

22,517.7

21,794.9

97

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

May
2025

April
2026

May
2026

(million
pounds)

(million
pounds)

(million
pounds)

May 2026 as % of

January to May

May
2025

April
2026

2025

2026

2026 as %
of 2025

(percent)

(percent)

(million
pounds)

(million
pounds)

(percent)

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

2,092.2
2.1
2,231.6
10.2

2,064.3
1.4
2,339.1
9.4

1,922.2
1.4
2,132.5
8.3

92
66
96
82

93
97
91
88

10,745.7
10.4
11,495.7
52.2

10,039.0
7.5
11,497.6
48.0

93
73
100
92

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

4,336.1

4,414.2

4,064.5

94

92

22,304.0

21,592.1

97

4

Livestock Slaughter (June 2026)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

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

May
2025

April
2026

May
2026 as %
of 2025

May
2026

January to May
2025

2026 as %
of 2025

2026

(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

(percent)

2,405.9
43.6
2,449.4

2,296.4
45.1
2,341.5

2,143.5
40.7
2,184.2

89
93
89

12,316.6
229.5
12,546.2

11,194.0
216.9
11,411.0

91
95
91

1,425
1,230
1,422

1,471
1,263
1,467

1,468
1,263
1,464

103
103
103

1,434
1,240
1,430

1,470
1,263
1,466

103
102
103

10.0
0.5
10.5

6.7
0.4
7.1

6.3
0.4
6.7

63
82
64

53.6
2.9
56.5

36.4
2.5
38.8

68
85
69

360
417
362

368
430
371

377
436
381

105
105
105

329
397
333

352
414
356

107
104
107

10,353.9
43.5
10,397.4

10,704.2
40.6
10,744.8

9,766.9
39.2
9,806.1

94
90
94

53,020.6
228.5
53,249.1

52,598.0
205.7
52,803.7

99
90
99

289
256
289

293
265
293

292
263
292

101
103
101

291
262
291

293
265
293

101
101
101

159.7
27.2
186.9

160.1
18.9
179.0

145.9
21.6
167.5

91
79
90

812.4
123.9
936.3

793.6
99.2
892.9

98
80
95

126
96
122

115
102
114

112
98
110

89
102
91

127
102
123

119
102
117

94
100
95

41.9
8.6
50.5

38.7
8.0
46.7

38.9
8.1
47.0

93
95
93

215.9
44.5
260.4

207.9
42.0
249.9

96
94
96

64
83
67

64
81
67

65
84
68

101
101
101

65
83
68

64
83
67

99
100
100

4.5
0.2
4.7

5.1
0.3
5.4

4.5
0.2
4.7

100
113
100

27.1
1.4
28.5

22.9
1.7
24.6

85
115
86

Livestock Slaughter (June 2026)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

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

May
2025

April
2026

May
2026

May 2026 as
% of 2025

(million pounds)

(million pounds)

(million pounds)

(percent)

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

1.1
0.1
39.0
0.5
81.7
181.5
2.2
4.0
7.6
0.8

1.2
0.1
42.4
0.5
78.5
133.2
1.8
4.8
9.0
0.7

1.0
(Y)
37.7
0.5
76.0
96.8
1.7
4.4
8.0
0.6

99
(X)
97
94
93
53
77
110
105
79

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

46.8
267.1
161.5
739.0
437.4
50.0
0.4
125.8
215.8
0.9

44.6
275.0
170.6
763.7
480.2
53.8
0.4
136.4
233.0
0.9

40.4
262.0
158.3
711.6
467.4
49.3
0.4
122.2
209.0
0.8

86
98
98
96
107
99
100
97
97
92

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

157.2
2.2
640.6
0.1
2.7
4.2
0.4
2.6
224.1
0.8

183.3
2.1
620.4
0.1
2.2
4.3
0.4
2.8
228.0
0.8

169.3
1.9
582.1
0.1
1.9
4.2
0.4
2.5
186.6
0.7

108
84
91
92
73
100
93
98
83
87

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

21.4
110.1
2.3
127.6
15.9
106.7
25.3
354.7
46.2
1.2

25.1
109.0
2.2
130.4
10.9
119.9
24.0
328.1
51.7
1.2

23.2
93.8
2.2
121.3
10.7
102.6
25.5
323.8
43.9
1.1

108
85
96
95
68
96
101
91
95
96

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

76.0
0.7
89.5
0.9

83.2
0.9
93.0
0.9

72.3
0.8
82.9
0.8

95
116
93
88

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

4,376.4

4,455.9

4,102.8

94

(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 (June 2026)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Commercial Cattle Slaughter – States and United States: May 2025 and 2026
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
State

Slaughtered

Total live weight

Average live weight

2025

2026

2025

2026

2025

2026

(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 ...................................

1.0
0.1
(D)
0.8
83.5
195.3
2.1
(D)
(D)
1.0

1.0
0.1
(D)
0.7
76.7
102.3
1.6
(D)
(D)
0.8

1,133
66
(D)
853
118,988
284,364
3,085
(D)
(D)
1,258

1,168
71
(D)
764
107,783
151,581
2,255
(D)
(D)
990

1,128
1,048
(D)
1,125
1,435
1,458
1,436
(D)
(D)
1,209

1,147
1,208
(D)
1,133
1,415
1,484
1,401
(D)
(D)
1,280

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

57.0
(D)
8.5
42.6
473.1
6.3
0.5
(D)
(D)
0.7

48.3
(D)
9.7
40.4
485.8
6.0
0.5
(D)
(D)
0.6

79,226
(D)
10,486
60,769
671,794
7,477
533
(D)
(D)
685

66,670
(D)
12,551
59,080
721,620
7,254
542
(D)
(D)
650

1,400
(D)
1,251
1,427
1,421
1,192
1,005
(D)
(D)
1,028

1,390
(D)
1,300
1,464
1,486
1,212
1,100
(D)
(D)
1,038

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

10.5
2.6
536.2
(D)
2.8
4.3
0.5
2.6
(D)
0.9

20.6
2.1
455.2
0.1
2.2
4.1
0.5
2.6
(D)
0.8

12,835
3,281
794,698
(D)
3,435
4,948
534
3,323
(D)
1,192

29,130
2,640
696,886
119
2,730
4,784
493
3,283
(D)
1,023

1,234
1,267
1,484
(D)
1,248
1,165
1,078
1,262
(D)
1,282

1,420
1,270
1,532
1,199
1,247
1,170
1,070
1,263
(D)
1,346

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

5.8
6.8
1.3
87.8
21.8
27.1
3.2
423.4
(D)
1.3

5.7
6.5
1.1
79.5
15.6
(D)
3.0
364.3
(D)
1.3

7,751
8,144
1,609
118,773
31,050
42,691
3,288
575,180
(D)
1,489

7,586
7,984
1,407
108,377
20,880
(D)
3,056
522,063
(D)
1,451

1,338
1,204
1,250
1,358
1,431
1,576
1,064
1,362
(D)
1,106

1,338
1,241
1,274
1,368
1,343
(D)
1,041
1,437
(D)
1,145

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

83.8
0.7
94.1
0.9

79.2
0.9
84.8
0.8

121,312
961
132,456
1,190

115,983
1,160
120,064
1,072

1,452
1,286
1,415
1,295

1,470
1,290
1,422
1,276

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

2,449.4

2,184.2

3,475,007

3,190,441

1,422

1,464

(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
1
New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Livestock Slaughter (June 2026)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

7

Commercial Calf Slaughter – States and United States: May 2025 and 2026
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
State

Slaughtered

Total live weight

Average live weight

2025

2026

2025

2026

2025

2026

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

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

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
52
33
(D)

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

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
424
435
(D)

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

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

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

(Y)
0.1
0.4
(D)
(Y)
(Y)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(Y)

(D)
46
(D)
(D)
(X)
(X)
(D)
(D)
(X)
(X)

(X)
37
143
(D)
(X)
(X)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(X)

(D)
400
(D)
(D)
(X)
(X)
(D)
(D)
(X)
(X)

(X)
413
407
(D)
(X)
(X)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(X)

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

(Y)
(Y)
(D)
(D)
0.1
1.6
(D)
(D)
0.1
(D)

(Y)
(Y)
(D)
(D)
0.1
1.0
(D)
(D)
(Y)
(D)

(X)
(X)
(D)
(D)
21
630
(D)
(D)
22
(D)

(X)
(X)
(D)
(D)
9
408
(D)
(D)
(X)
(D)

(X)
(X)
(D)
(D)
229
388
(D)
(D)
360
(D)

(X)
(X)
(D)
(D)
172
392
(D)
(D)
(X)
(D)

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

(D)
(D)
(D)
4.8
(D)
(D)
(D)
0.1
(D)
(D)

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

(D)
(D)
(D)
2,010
(D)
(D)
(D)
61
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
54
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
418
(D)
(D)
(D)
481
(D)
(D)

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
483
(D)
(D)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10.5

6.7

3,769

2,534

362

381

(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 (June 2026)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Commercial Hog Slaughter – States and United States: May 2025 and 2026
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
State

Slaughtered

Total live weight

Average live weight

2025

2026

2025

2026

2025

2026

(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 ...................................

1.5
0.1
0.1
0.3
83.4
2.0
1.4
2.7
5.0
0.2

1.3
(Y)
0.1
0.3
79.3
1.6
1.4
2.0
4.6
0.2

631
16
23
81
19,183
345
381
341
1,262
49

555
(X)
19
82
18,976
285
375
253
1,253
49

410
261
275
265
230
177
276
126
251
286

414
(X)
245
293
240
174
272
124
271
285

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

11.3
974.8
723.8
3,243.0
(D)
(D)
0.3
398.7
927.3
3.8

11.5
926.7
692.5
3,087.3
(D)
(D)
0.2
380.3
885.7
3.3

2,864
280,619
207,168
944,963
(D)
(D)
57
115,126
258,059
663

2,989
265,066
200,322
906,806
(D)
(D)
57
109,606
250,797
598

254
288
286
291
(D)
(D)
214
289
278
176

261
286
289
294
(D)
(D)
261
288
283
181

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

690.3
1.0
670.0
(D)
2.1
8.3
0.1
1.6
(D)
0.2

700.6
1.1
672.3
(D)
1.3
8.4
0.2
1.7
(D)
0.2

200,970
293
194,814
(D)
579
839
35
416
(D)
65

204,880
315
194,675
(D)
362
971
40
430
(D)
72

291
294
291
(D)
272
101
268
253
(D)
291

292
280
290
(D)
269
115
256
249
(D)
297

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

77.9
478.5
5.1
272.1
1.7
(D)
76.3
23.2
1.7
1.1

84.2
376.0
5.3
(D)
1.5
(D)
75.5
18.7
1.9
1.0

22,147
139,037
1,286
74,790
447
(D)
35,211
4,494
425
306

24,831
115,702
1,368
(D)
383
(D)
35,675
3,642
361
318

285
291
255
275
256
(D)
462
194
245
281

295
308
260
(D)
253
(D)
473
195
191
316

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

(D)
0.4
60.7
0.8

(D)
0.5
61.1
0.7

(D)
113
26,371
211

(D)
133
27,472
175

(D)
279
436
275

(D)
286
450
266

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

10,397.4

9,806.1

3,005,881

2,863,932

289

292

(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 (June 2026)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

9

Commercial Sheep and Lamb Slaughter – States and United States: May 2025 and 2026
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
State

Slaughtered

Total live weight

Average live weight

2025

2026

2025

2026

2025

2026

(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 ...................................

0.1
(Y)
0.6
0.1
19.8
34.0
1.3
3.1
3.5
0.1

(Y)
(Y)
(D)
0.1
16.6
25.5
1.4
3.0
3.6
0.1

7
(X)
73
9
2,960
6,045
127
154
207
15

(X)
(X)
(D)
14
2,344
4,127
137
141
235
11

108
(X)
116
93
150
178
97
50
60
153

(X)
(X)
(D)
103
141
162
97
47
65
121

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

0.1
6.8
5.9
0.1
0.2
0.9
0.8
(D)
0.5
0.2

0.2
6.7
6.7
0.2
0.3
0.7
0.6
(D)
0.7
0.2

24
551
599
17
20
90
44
(D)
46
17

36
521
670
17
24
77
33
(D)
56
15

160
81
102
118
92
104
57
(D)
84
69

150
78
100
105
85
109
55
(D)
78
68

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

2.0
0.3
0.1
(D)
4.8
16.1
0.8
6.0
6.5
(Y)

1.9
0.3
0.1
(D)
2.5
17.1
0.6
5.8
7.5
(Y)

152
33
6
(D)
476
1,334
118
628
371
(X)

134
40
5
(D)
236
1,546
86
582
452
(X)

76
117
113
(D)
99
83
151
105
57
(X)

72
126
106
(D)
95
91
141
100
60
(X)

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

4.7
(D)
4.4
10.0
(D)
0.2
(D)
26.9
1.1
1.1

3.7
(D)
4.4
8.9
(D)
0.2
1.6
25.2
1.0
0.7

730
(D)
724
1,073
(D)
22
(D)
2,500
155
72

582
(D)
673
911
(D)
19
135
1,892
132
47

155
(D)
166
107
(D)
144
(D)
93
137
63

158
(D)
153
103
(D)
103
86
75
132
69

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

1.3
(D)
0.6
0.2

1.1
(D)
0.8
0.1

179
(D)
58
25

143
(D)
68
10

138
(D)
105
123

135
(D)
84
156

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

186.9

167.5

22,731

18,446

122

110

(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 (June 2026)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

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

May
2025

April
2026

May
2026

2025

2026

(1,000
head)

(1,000
head)

(1,000
head)

(1,000
head)

(1,000
head)

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

1,180.1
787.1
401.6
196.8
204.8
37.1

1,110.8
766.3
384.2
215.1
169.2
35.2

1,082.6
665.4
361.5
191.7
169.8
34.1

6,003.7
4,035.5
2,106.8
1,086.7
1,020.1
170.7

5,489.5
3,573.9
1,970.8
1,130.0
840.8
159.8

49.1
32.7
16.7
8.2
8.5
1.5

48.4
33.4
16.7
9.4
7.4
1.5

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

2,405.9

2,296.4

2,143.5

12,316.6

11,194.0

100.0

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

10.0

6.7

6.3

53.6

36.4

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

10,081.9
249.5
22.4

10,441.3
243.5
19.5

9,518.0
229.1
19.8

51,633.0
1,276.2
111.4

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

10,353.9

10,704.2

9,766.9

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

10.8

10.9

148.9

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

159.7

Class

May
2025

April
2026

January to May

May
2026

2025

2026

(percent of
total)

(percent of
total)

50.5
31.0
16.9
8.9
7.9
1.6

48.7
32.8
17.1
8.8
8.3
1.4

49.0
31.9
17.6
10.1
7.5
1.4

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

51,296.1
1,202.1
99.8

97.4
2.4
0.2

97.5
2.3
0.2

97.5
2.3
0.2

97.4
2.4
0.2

97.5
2.3
0.2

53,020.6

52,598.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

11.1

51.3

54.9

6.7

6.8

7.6

6.3

6.9

149.1

134.8

761.1

738.7

93.3

93.2

92.4

93.7

93.1

160.1

145.9

812.4

793.6

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

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

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

May
2025

April
2026

(pounds)

January to May

May
2026

(pounds)

2025

(pounds)

2026

(pounds)

(pounds)

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

872
942
866
669
940

901
980
900
667
936

899
978
893
664
950

874
947
869
669
919

899
982
896
667
934

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

215

217

224

195

208

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

216
213
301
224

219
217
302
233

218
216
306
235

217
215
298
222

219
217
301
229

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

64
65
64

59
62
59

57
63
57

64
66
64

60
63
60

1

Included in cattle average dressed weight.
Included in hog average dressed weight.
3
Included in sheep average dressed weight.
2

Livestock Slaughter (June 2026)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

11

Federally Inspected Slaughter – Regions and United States: May 2026
[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 ...............................

1.9
6.6
80.9
49.8
227.0
366.4
993.2
171.3
118.5
127.9

0.7
2.2
34.6
5.9
111.7
168.6
565.1
91.3
52.0
50.4

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

2,143.5

1,082.6

Calves
Cows

Bulls

Total

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

0.3
(D)
26.7
10.1
51.3
23.9
(D)
(D)
35.8
29.4

0.2
(D)
9.7
26.6
(D)
34.9
39.7
(D)
11.0
8.4

0.2
(D)
(D)
4.7
(D)
8.7
(D)
(D)
1.3
1.7

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

191.7

169.8

34.1

6.3

All

Dairy

Other

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

0.5
(D)
(D)
2.5
29.6
130.4
372.9
67.1
18.4
38.1

0.6
2.3
36.4
36.7
(D)
58.7
(D)
(D)
46.7
37.8

665.4

361.5

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 ...............................

1.2
10.1
(D)
(D)
3,015.1
392.0
4,472.9
(D)
75.4
18.1

1.2
10.1
(D)
(D)
2,929.3
391.9
4,391.9
(D)
75.3
18.1

(Y)
(Y)
0.2
78.5
80.7
0.1
69.5
(Y)
(Y)
(Y)

(Y)
(Y)
(D)
(D)
5.1
0.1
11.5
(D)
(Y)
(Y)

2.5
22.5
11.9
15.0
26.5
18.7
2.0
26.2
16.0
4.6

0.1
3.3
0.9
0.9
1.8
1.2
0.1
(D)
(D)
(Y)

2.4
19.2
11.0
14.1
24.7
17.5
1.9
(D)
(D)
4.6

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

9,766.9

9,518.0

229.1

19.8

145.9

11.1

134.8

(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 (June 2026)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Federally Inspected Slaughter – Regions and United States: January to May 2026
[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 ...............................

10.4
36.1
423.4
263.2
1,169.5
1,848.4
5,043.5
1,082.1
636.6
680.7

3.9
11.1
173.0
29.4
563.4
811.0
2,785.5
569.6
272.0
270.5

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

11,194.0

5,489.5

Calves
Cows

Bulls

Total

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

2.0
(D)
160.5
65.6
289.5
148.6
(D)
(D)
227.0
156.1

0.8
(D)
44.4
132.5
(D)
179.5
201.7
(D)
41.3
39.0

1.1
(D)
(D)
24.4
(D)
43.4
(D)
(D)
5.6
7.2

0.3
8.1
(D)
0.9
(D)
(D)
0.2
(Y)
(D)
0.2

1,130.0

840.8

159.8

36.4

All

Dairy

Other

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

(1,000 head)

2.6
(D)
(D)
11.4
146.9
665.9
1,974.1
444.4
90.7
207.9

2.8
13.3
204.9
198.1
(D)
328.2
(D)
(D)
268.3
195.1

3,573.9

1,970.8

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 ................................

7.4
55.4
(D)
(D)
16,264.8
2,186.8
23,725.0
(D)
385.5
99.4

7.3
55.1
(D)
(D)
15,797.1
2,185.9
23,308.4
(D)
385.2
99.3

0.1
0.2
0.9
398.8
441.0
0.4
360.2
0.3
0.2
0.1

(Y)
0.1
(D)
(D)
26.6
0.4
56.3
(D)
0.1
(Y)

16.7
114.5
69.3
67.9
143.8
82.9
9.3
176.5
88.5
24.3

0.8
15.1
5.2
4.7
8.2
6.1
0.5
(D)
(D)
0.4

16.0
99.4
64.1
63.1
135.6
76.8
8.7
(D)
(D)
23.8

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

52,598.0

51,296.1

1,202.1

99.8

793.6

54.9

738.7

(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

May
2025

April
2026

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

Livestock Slaughter (June 2026)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

(percent)
98.2
95.3
99.6
85.4

January to May

May
2026

2025

(percent)
98.1
93.9
99.6
89.4

2026

(percent)
98.1
94.0
99.6
87.1

(percent)
98.2
94.8
99.6
86.8

98.1
93.6
99.6
88.9

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 (June 2026)
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 1,125 livestock slaughter plants in the United States operating under Federal Inspection and
about 1,800 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 determine the
publishable data.

Livestock Slaughter (June 2026)
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
Sherry Bertramsen – Livestock Slaughter ................................................................................................ (202) 690-8632
Shulonda Blackmon – Capacity of Refrigerated Warehouses, Cold Storage ........................................... (202) 720-3240
Tiffany Byrne – Dairy Products................................................................................................................ (651) 440-7789
Ryan Cowen – Cattle, Cattle on Feed ....................................................................................................... (202) 720-3040
Kim DaPra – Milk Production .................................................................................................................. (202) 720-3278
Fatema Haque – Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised ................................................... (202) 720-3244
Derron Martin – Catfish, Census of Aquaculture, Egg Products, Trout ................................................... (202) 690-3237
Ralph Mondesir – Hogs and Pigs ............................................................................................................. (202) 720-3106
Suzanne Richards – Cost of Pollination, Honey, Honey Bee Colonies, Sheep and Goats ....................... (202) 720-4448
Autumn Stone – Layers, Eggs .................................................................................................................. (202) 690-3676
Takiyah Walker – Broiler Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery ........................................................................... (202) 720-6147

16

Livestock Slaughter (June 2026)
USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service

Access to NASS Reports
For your convenience, you may access NASS reports and products the following ways:
➢ All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS web site: www.nass.usda.gov.
➢ The national specific reports are available via a free e-mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit
www.nass.usda.gov and click on “National” in upper right corner above “search” box to create an account and
select the reports you would like to receive.
➢ Economics, Statistics, and Market Information (ESMIS) – National Agricultural Library (NAL) website houses
NASS’s and other agency archived reports at https://esmis.nal.usda.gov. All email subscriptions containing
reports will be sent from https://esmis.nal.usda.gov. To receive the reports via e-mail, you will have to go to the
website, create a new account and subscribe to the reports. You should whitelist
[email protected] in your email client to avoid the emails going into spam/junk folders.
For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at (800) 727-9540,
7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: [email protected].
If you have specific questions you would like an expert to respond to, please visit our “Ask A Specialist” website at
www.nass.usda.gov/Contact_Us/Ask_a_Specialist.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and
policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA
programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital
status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation
for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all
programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large
print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at
(202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally,
program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027,
found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to
USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call
(866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of
the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202)
690-7442; or (3) email: [email protected].
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.