In July 2023, the United States witnessed notable shifts in its meat production landscape, as reported by the USDA NASS. Total meat production for the month reached 4.13 billion pounds, signaling a 2% decrease compared to the previous year’s 4.23 billion pounds. While beef production took a 6% dip, pork production saw a 2% increase, outlining the following key details:
Beef Production: The beef production for July amounted to 2.11 billion pounds, reflecting a 6% decline from the same period in 2022. This decrease was accompanied by a 6% reduction in cattle slaughter, totaling 2.60 million head. Interestingly, the average live weight increased by 3 pounds from the previous year, reaching 1,344 pounds.
Pork Production: On the contrary, pork production surged by 2%, reaching 2.01 billion pounds in July. Hog slaughter recorded a 3% upswing, totaling 9.62 million head. However, there was a slight dip in the average live weight, down by 3 pounds from the prior year, settling at 281 pounds.
Veal and Lamb/Mutton Production: Veal production experienced an 8% decrease, amounting to 3.8 million pounds, while lamb and mutton production stood at 9.5 million pounds, down by 9% compared to July 2022. Calf slaughter marked a 21% decline, and sheep slaughter decreased by 3%. Average live weights also showed fluctuations.
For the cumulative period of January to July 2023, commercial red meat production reached 31.4 billion pounds, marking a 2% decrease from the same timeframe in 2022. Beef production declined by 4%, veal production decreased by 12%, pork production exhibited a 1% rise, and lamb and mutton production experienced a 1% decrease.
These trends in meat production for July 2023 provide valuable insights into the dynamic nature of the US meat industry, with varying performance across different sectors.
