December red meat production down slightly on year

U.S. commercial red meat production during December 2024 was 4.545 billion pounds.

The USDA says that was slightly less than during December 2023, with the cattle and hog slaughters both posting year-to-year declines, canceling out the steady to higher average live weights.

Beef production of 2.201 billion pounds, was fractionally larger than the year before, with a slaughter of 2.542 million head, 2% smaller, and an average live weight of 1,431 pounds, 30 heavier. Pork production of 2.329 billion pounds with a slaughter of 10.748 million head, both down 1%, and the average live weight holding at 291 pounds.

For cattle, the December heifer and dairy cow slaughters were up on the year, while steer, other cow, and bull numbers were down, and for hogs, the barrow and gilt, sow, and boar slaughter numbers decreased.

Overall, the steer slaughter rose above last year, with heifers, cows, and bulls falling, and the barrow and gilt slaughter was higher, while sow and boar slaughter levels were lower.