Livestock Slaughter
ISSN: 0499-0544
Released April 20, 2012, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
Commercial Red Meat Production Down 4 Percent From Last Year
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.17 billion
pounds in March, down 4 percent from the 4.35 billion pounds produced in
March 2011.
Beef production, at 2.16 billion pounds, was 5 percent below the previous
year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.75 million head, down 7 percent from March
2011. The average live weight was up 23 pounds from the previous year, at
1,299 pounds.
Veal production totaled 10.0 million pounds, 18 percent below March a year
ago. Calf slaughter totaled 59,400 head, down 19 percent from March 2011. The
average live weight was down 1 pound from last year, at 283 pounds.
Pork production totaled 1.99 billion pounds, down 3 percent from the previous
year. Hog slaughter totaled 9.52 million head, down 4 percent from March
2011. The average live weight was up 1 pound from the previous year, at
279 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 14.2 million pounds, was up 1 percent from
March 2011. Sheep slaughter totaled 190,200 head, 2 percent below last year.
The average live weight was 149 pounds, up 3 pounds from March a year ago.
January to March 2012 commercial red meat production was 12.2 billion pounds,
up slightly from 2011. Accumulated beef production was down 2 percent from
last year, veal was down 9 percent, pork was up 2 percent from last year, and
lamb and mutton production was up 7 percent.
March 2011 contained 23 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 4 Saturdays.
March 2012 contained 22 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 5 Saturdays.
This page intentionally left blank.
Contents
Commercial Red Meat Production - United States ................................4
Federally Inspected Red Meat Production - United States .......................4
Livestock Slaughter, Number of Head and Average Live Weight - United States ...5
Commercial Red Meat Production - States and United States .....................6
Commercial Cattle Slaughter - States and United States: March 2011 and 2012 ...7
Commercial Calf Slaughter - States and United States: March 2011 and 2012 .....8
Commercial Hog Slaughter - States and United States: March 2011 and 2012 ......9
Commercial Sheep and Lamb Slaughter - States and United States: March 2011
and 2012 .....................................................................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: March 2012 ........12
Federally Inspected Slaughter - Regions and United States: January to
March 2012 ...................................................................13
Federally Inspected Slaughter, Percent of Total Commercial Slaughter -
United States ................................................................13
Statistical Methodology ......................................................14
Terms and Definitions Used for Livestock Slaughter Estimates .................15
Information Contacts .........................................................16
Commercial Red Meat Production - United States
[Totals, accumulated totals and percentages based on unrounded data]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : : March 2012 as % of : January to March
: March : February : March :----------------------------------------------------
Type : 2011 : 2012 : 2012 : March : February : : :2012 as %
: : : : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ------- million pounds ------ --- percent --- million pounds percent
:
Beef .............: 2,266.2 2,009.0 2,157.6 95 107 6,409.5 6,280.4 98
Veal .............: 12.1 9.8 10.0 82 102 33.4 30.2 91
Pork .............: 2,054.4 1,882.9 1,987.9 97 106 5,718.7 5,857.8 102
Lamb and mutton ..: 14.1 12.3 14.2 101 115 36.2 38.6 107
:
Total red meat ...: 4,346.7 3,914.0 4,169.7 96 107 12,197.8 12,207.0 100
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federally Inspected Red Meat Production - United States
[Totals, accumulated totals and percentages based on unrounded data]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : : March 2012 as % of : January to March
: March : February : March :----------------------------------------------------
Type : 2011 : 2012 : 2012 : March : February : : :2012 as %
: : : : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ------- million pounds ------ --- percent --- million pounds percent
:
Beef .............: 2,236.7 1,981.2 2,131.2 95 108 6,323.9 6,194.0 98
Veal .............: 11.8 9.6 9.8 83 102 32.6 29.5 91
Pork .............: 2,040.1 1,870.1 1,975.1 97 106 5,680.5 5,819.4 102
Lamb and mutton ..: 13.6 11.8 13.6 100 115 34.7 37.0 107
:
Total red meat ...: 4,302.2 3,872.7 4,129.7 96 107 12,071.7 12,079.9 100
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Livestock Slaughter, Number of Head and Average Live Weight - United States
[Totals, accumulated totals and percentages based on unrounded data]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : : March : January to March
: March : February : March :2012 as % :--------------------------------
Species : 2011 : 2012 : 2012 : of 2011 : : :2012 as %
: : : : : 2011 : 2012 : of 2011
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: percent percent
:
Cattle :
Number of head :
Federally inspected ...1,000: 2,913.0 2,514.7 2,710.3 93 8,180.3 7,890.6 96
Other .................1,000: 46.1 43.0 40.8 88 134.2 134.0 100
Commercial ............1,000: 2,959.1 2,557.7 2,751.1 93 8,314.4 8,024.5 97
Live weight per head :
Federally inspected ..pounds: 1,278 1,310 1,302 102 1,290 1,305 101
Other ................pounds: 1,125 1,141 1,141 101 1,129 1,139 101
Commercial ...........pounds: 1,276 1,307 1,299 102 1,287 1,302 101
:
Calves :
Number of head :
Federally inspected ...1,000: 71.8 59.3 58.5 81 210.5 184.4 88
Other .................1,000: 1.2 0.9 1.0 77 3.3 3.0 91
Commercial ............1,000: 73.0 60.2 59.4 81 213.8 187.3 88
Live weight per head :
Federally inspected ..pounds: 281 274 281 100 268 271 101
Other ................pounds: 431 417 427 99 434 424 98
Commercial ...........pounds: 284 276 283 100 270 273 101
:
Hogs :
Number of head :
Federally inspected ...1,000: 9,794.6 8,974.8 9,453.6 97 27,270.6 27,895.2 102
Other .................1,000: 78.0 69.7 68.1 87 212.2 208.6 98
Commercial ............1,000: 9,872.5 9,044.5 9,521.6 96 27,482.9 28,103.8 102
Live weight per head :
Federally inspected ..pounds: 278 278 279 100 278 279 100
Other ................pounds: 255 253 259 102 250 254 102
Commercial ...........pounds: 278 278 279 100 278 278 100
:
Sheep and lambs :
Number of head :
Federally inspected ...1,000: 183.5 154.6 180.0 98 479.4 488.3 102
Other .................1,000: 10.3 10.8 10.2 99 30.8 32.1 104
Commercial ............1,000: 193.8 165.4 190.2 98 510.2 520.4 102
Live weight per head :
Federally inspected ..pounds: 148 153 152 102 145 152 105
Other ................pounds: 99 98 107 109 97 101 104
Commercial ...........pounds: 146 149 149 102 142 149 105
:
Goats :
Number of head :
Federally inspected ...1,000: 42.6 38.4 44.1 104 121.1 125.8 104
Other .................1,000: 12.8 14.1 11.4 89 38.6 39.3 102
Commercial ............1,000: 55.3 52.6 55.5 100 159.7 165.1 103
Live weight per head :
Federally inspected ..pounds: 65 62 63 98 64 63 99
Other ................pounds: 77 62 77 100 71 68 95
Commercial ...........pounds: 67 62 66 98 65 64 98
:
Bison :
Number of head :
Federally inspected ...1,000: 3.9 3.4 3.2 83 11.2 10.5 94
Other .................1,000: 0.9 0.8 0.8 84 2.6 2.5 97
Commercial ............1,000: 4.8 4.2 4.0 83 13.7 13.0 94
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commercial Red Meat Production - States and United States
[Includes total beef, veal, pork, lamb, and mutton. Totals and percentages based on
unrounded data]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
State : March : February : March : March 2012 as
: 2011 : 2012 : 2012 : % of 2011
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ----------- million pounds ---------- percent
:
Alabama ...............: 1.9 1.4 1.6 85
Alaska ................: - - - -
Arizona ...............: 33.4 30.7 33.9 101
Arkansas ..............: 3.8 3.5 3.8 101
California ............: 154.8 136.6 147.9 96
Colorado ..............: 191.4 175.0 185.3 97
Delaware-Maryland .....: 3.2 2.7 2.8 87
Florida ...............: 10.1 8.0 9.6 94
Georgia ...............: 10.9 11.3 11.8 108
Hawaii ................: 1.0 0.9 0.8 87
:
Idaho .................: 13.4 3.3 3.4 26
Illinois ..............: 237.9 234.5 248.3 104
Indiana ...............: 158.6 142.5 148.3 93
Iowa ..................: 600.6 532.1 564.5 94
Kansas ................: 459.2 398.1 441.9 96
Kentucky ..............: 51.4 46.6 48.6 95
Louisiana .............: 0.6 0.5 0.5 79
Michigan ..............: 41.8 40.5 41.1 98
Minnesota .............: 239.3 226.7 239.9 100
Mississippi ...........: 3.1 2.5 2.6 85
:
Missouri ..............: 160.1 145.2 158.2 99
Montana ...............: 0.8 0.7 0.7 91
Nebraska ..............: 609.0 572.4 605.7 99
Nevada ................: 0.1 0.1 0.1 89
New England 1/ ........: 1.3 1.2 1.3 95
New Jersey ............: 5.0 4.1 4.4 88
New Mexico ............: 0.4 0.3 0.3 76
New York ..............: 2.5 2.4 2.6 104
North Carolina ........: 219.4 204.2 205.1 94
North Dakota ..........: 4.1 2.8 2.7 66
:
Ohio ..................: 26.4 22.7 22.4 85
Oklahoma ..............: 115.1 93.6 97.1 84
Oregon ................: 5.9 5.6 5.9 99
Pennsylvania ..........: 112.3 105.0 107.8 96
South Carolina ........: 21.6 19.1 20.6 95
South Dakota ..........: 95.7 81.1 86.6 90
Tennessee .............: 19.9 17.4 18.3 92
Texas .................: 453.8 389.3 416.5 92
Utah ..................: 38.0 41.1 41.9 110
Virginia ..............: 40.9 37.2 45.8 112
:
Washington ............: 72.8 68.1 76.9 106
West Virginia .........: 0.6 0.5 0.6 106
Wisconsin .............: 124.1 102.1 111.1 90
Wyoming ...............: 0.5 0.5 0.5 103
:
United States .........: 4,346.7 3,914.0 4,169.7 96
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Represents zero.
1/ New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode
Island, and Vermont.
Commercial Cattle Slaughter - States and United States: March 2011 and 2012
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Number slaughtered : Total live weight : Average live weight
State :--------------------------------------------------------------------
: 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ---- 1,000 head --- --- 1,000 pounds --- ---- pounds ----
:
Alabama ..........: 0.7 0.6 725 545 1,010 982
Alaska ...........: - - - - - -
Arizona ..........: 44.7 46.2 57,618 60,042 1,293 1,301
Arkansas .........: 0.7 0.6 693 594 979 959
California .......: 155.5 147.6 197,101 189,472 1,291 1,293
Colorado .........: 223.7 206.9 291,493 278,720 1,304 1,348
Delaware-Maryland : 3.5 3.0 4,511 3,968 1,306 1,321
Florida ..........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
Georgia ..........: 19.9 21.0 19,586 20,959 985 999
Hawaii ...........: 1.1 1.0 1,275 1,112 1,139 1,134
:
Idaho ............: 17.7 2.3 21,549 2,420 1,247 1,120
Illinois .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
Indiana ..........: 3.5 2.9 3,695 3,104 1,059 1,063
Iowa .............: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
Kansas ...........: 563.2 533.3 709,736 681,352 1,260 1,278
Kentucky .........: 1.6 1.5 1,665 1,589 1,013 1,029
Louisiana ........: 0.5 0.5 429 369 800 798
Michigan .........: 48.3 46.9 65,688 64,701 1,373 1,386
Minnesota ........: 73.1 66.9 104,823 97,371 1,443 1,461
Mississippi ......: 0.2 0.1 110 54 578 721
:
Missouri .........: 7.5 5.1 8,983 5,648 1,204 1,108
Montana ..........: 0.9 0.8 1,057 1,003 1,156 1,194
Nebraska .........: 585.1 554.4 770,231 750,567 1,318 1,355
Nevada ...........: 0.1 0.1 116 90 1,023 972
New England 1/ ...: 1.5 1.4 1,528 1,417 1,042 1,046
New Jersey .......: 3.6 3.1 4,036 3,556 1,122 1,139
New Mexico .......: 0.4 0.3 546 331 1,263 1,229
New York .........: 2.6 2.6 2,938 2,934 1,146 1,162
North Carolina ...: 19.7 17.8 22,673 20,827 1,157 1,172
North Dakota .....: 3.4 3.3 4,541 4,458 1,352 1,351
:
Ohio .............: 10.1 7.9 11,787 9,294 1,176 1,185
Oklahoma .........: 2.7 2.2 2,860 2,345 1,068 1,067
Oregon ...........: 4.0 4.6 4,948 5,590 1,263 1,233
Pennsylvania .....: 87.6 82.6 105,008 99,981 1,209 1,215
South Carolina ...: 14.5 12.7 16,489 14,954 1,157 1,191
South Dakota .....: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
Tennessee ........: 4.2 3.8 3,530 3,113 851 841
Texas ............: 599.0 542.0 731,261 672,623 1,225 1,244
Utah .............: 46.6 49.1 61,604 67,807 1,325 1,384
Virginia .........: 1.3 1.0 1,392 1,120 1,080 1,072
:
Washington .......: 91.7 94.0 118,634 125,133 1,300 1,336
West Virginia ....: 0.7 0.7 765 767 1,084 1,047
Wisconsin ........: 151.3 133.5 200,488 177,721 1,337 1,339
Wyoming ..........: 0.6 0.6 708 748 1,120 1,260
:
United States ....: 2,959.1 2,751.1 3,761,349 3,566,623 1,276 1,299
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Represents zero.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
1/ New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode
Island, and Vermont.
Commercial Calf Slaughter - States and United States: March 2011 and 2012
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Number slaughtered : Total live weight : Average live weight
State :--------------------------------------------------------------------
: 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: -- 1,000 head -- -- 1,000 pounds -- --- pounds ---
:
Alabama ..........: - - - - - -
Alaska ...........: (D) - (D) - (D) -
Arizona ..........: - - - - - -
Arkansas .........: - - - - - -
California .......: 17.1 13.4 1,705 1,404 100 106
Colorado .........: (D) - (D) - (D) -
Delaware-Maryland : 0.3 0.3 70 73 260 264
Florida ..........: (D) 0.1 (D) 28 (D) 437
Georgia ..........: - 0.1 - 76 - 774
Hawaii ...........: - - - - - -
:
Idaho ............: (D) - (D) - (D) -
Illinois .........: 1.7 1.2 757 494 439 429
Indiana ..........: (D) 0.4 (D) 113 (D) 287
Iowa .............: - - - - - -
Kansas ...........: - - - - - -
Kentucky .........: 0.1 - 51 - 566 -
Louisiana ........: 0.4 0.3 223 146 537 517
Michigan .........: 1.7 1.6 684 694 419 429
Minnesota ........: - - - - - -
Mississippi ......: - - - - - -
:
Missouri .........: 0.1 - 28 - 435 -
Montana ..........: - - - - - -
Nebraska .........: - - - - - -
Nevada ...........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
New England 1/ ...: 0.6 0.5 93 81 165 169
New Jersey .......: 8.1 6.2 3,211 2,589 396 417
New Mexico .......: - - - - - -
New York .........: 7.5 6.9 756 719 108 105
North Carolina ...: 0.2 0.1 83 37 526 507
North Dakota .....: (D) - (D) - (D) -
:
Ohio .............: 9.5 7.6 2,343 1,842 268 245
Oklahoma .........: 0.1 0.1 36 50 396 456
Oregon ...........: (D) - (D) - (D) -
Pennsylvania .....: 10.8 9.6 4,554 4,118 422 430
South Carolina ...: - - - - - -
South Dakota .....: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
Tennessee ........: 0.1 0.1 24 25 434 447
Texas ............: 1.5 0.6 918 398 660 633
Utah .............: - - - - - -
Virginia .........: - - - - - -
:
Washington .......: 3.1 2.2 221 139 72 64
West Virginia ....: (D) - (D) - (D) -
Wisconsin ........: 9.8 8.1 4,352 3,648 446 448
Wyoming ..........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
:
United States ....: 73.0 59.4 20,311 16,760 284 283
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Represents zero.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
1/ New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode
Island, and Vermont.
Commercial Hog Slaughter - States and United States: March 2011 and 2012
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Number slaughtered : Total live weight : Average live weight
State :--------------------------------------------------------------------
: 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: ---- 1,000 head --- --- 1,000 pounds --- --- pounds ---
:
Alabama ..........: 6.5 5.5 2,757 2,275 427 416
Alaska ...........: (D) - (D) - (D) -
Arizona ..........: 0.2 0.2 39 44 236 279
Arkansas .........: 11.1 11.4 5,105 5,188 462 456
California .......: 226.3 209.0 55,556 50,948 246 244
Colorado .........: 0.8 0.8 202 188 266 242
Delaware-Maryland : 1.6 1.3 414 326 259 259
Florida ..........: 6.3 5.1 918 773 146 151
Georgia ..........: 6.2 6.6 1,580 1,634 254 247
Hawaii ...........: 1.3 1.1 323 279 249 249
:
Idaho ............: 11.0 11.1 2,807 2,820 255 255
Illinois .........: 822.3 892.7 231,749 252,590 282 283
Indiana ..........: 758.4 714.0 206,003 193,256 272 271
Iowa .............: 2,686.3 2,519.9 747,492 705,181 278 280
Kansas ...........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
Kentucky .........: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
Louisiana ........: 1.3 1.0 268 200 213 197
Michigan .........: 11.0 11.0 4,308 4,248 393 388
Minnesota ........: 904.8 924.7 243,372 250,620 270 271
Mississippi ......: 11.7 9.9 4,246 3,647 363 367
:
Missouri .........: 721.1 722.4 205,377 205,539 285 285
Montana ..........: 0.7 0.7 191 162 264 247
Nebraska .........: 667.1 684.1 183,798 190,212 276 278
Nevada ...........: - 0.1 - 14 - 254
New England 1/ ...: 1.7 1.6 406 420 244 258
New Jersey .......: 8.7 9.9 893 979 103 99
New Mexico .......: 0.1 0.1 21 23 254 254
New York .........: 2.2 2.4 394 510 182 211
North Carolina ...: 1,014.6 941.0 274,966 258,165 271 274
North Dakota .....: 8.8 0.3 2,231 82 252 294
:
Ohio .............: 92.0 83.2 25,058 22,097 273 266
Oklahoma .........: 525.0 449.1 148,536 126,332 283 281
Oregon ...........: 17.0 14.8 4,318 3,762 255 254
Pennsylvania .....: 240.1 237.5 62,421 61,834 260 261
South Carolina ...: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
South Dakota .....: 435.1 384.4 116,203 104,372 267 272
Tennessee ........: 57.2 53.3 26,719 24,793 468 466
Texas ............: 38.0 27.6 10,885 8,622 286 312
Utah .............: 4.6 3.9 737 566 163 144
Virginia .........: 195.8 220.5 52,776 59,698 270 271
:
Washington .......: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
West Virginia ....: 0.4 0.6 102 159 240 251
Wisconsin ........: 48.5 45.3 21,924 20,507 455 454
Wyoming ..........: 0.4 0.3 92 81 233 263
:
United States ....: 9,872.5 9,521.6 2,739,640 2,653,411 278 279
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Represents zero.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
1/ New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode
Island, and Vermont.
Commercial Sheep and Lamb Slaughter - States and United States: March 2011 and 2012
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Number slaughtered : Total live weight : Average live weight
State :--------------------------------------------------------------------
: 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: --- 1,000 head -- -- 1,000 pounds -- --- pounds ---
:
Alabama ..........: - 0.1 - 4 - 70
Alaska ...........: - - - - - -
Arizona ..........: 0.2 0.3 30 36 137 133
Arkansas .........: - 0.1 - 6 - 105
California .......: 26.9 27.6 3,964 4,023 147 146
Colorado .........: 92.7 92.1 15,210 15,873 164 173
Delaware-Maryland : 3.2 2.9 326 291 101 100
Florida ..........: 0.2 0.3 12 19 62 70
Georgia ..........: 0.2 0.4 17 32 72 88
Hawaii ...........: - 0.1 - 9 - 129
:
Idaho ............: 0.1 0.1 20 19 137 135
Illinois .........: 9.6 12.4 1,467 1,938 153 157
Indiana ..........: 2.5 2.7 265 293 107 108
Iowa .............: 8.5 0.1 1,266 21 150 153
Kansas ...........: 0.2 0.3 18 28 87 101
Kentucky .........: 0.9 0.9 120 112 132 131
Louisiana ........: 0.3 0.2 20 18 78 78
Michigan .........: 15.2 15.3 2,035 2,038 134 134
Minnesota ........: 1.0 0.2 137 21 143 119
Mississippi ......: (D) 0.2 (D) 15 (D) 67
:
Missouri .........: 0.3 0.3 35 41 118 134
Montana ..........: 0.2 0.2 19 17 106 113
Nebraska .........: - - - - - -
Nevada ...........: - - - - - -
New England 1/ ...: 2.1 2.3 199 205 94 91
New Jersey .......: 8.9 8.9 772 737 87 83
New Mexico .......: 1.0 0.9 162 139 155 155
New York .........: 2.4 3.8 199 346 83 91
North Carolina ...: 1.1 1.0 84 78 75 81
North Dakota .....: - - - - - -
:
Ohio .............: 0.5 0.5 58 53 107 107
Oklahoma .........: 0.2 0.3 19 39 122 138
Oregon ...........: 1.9 2.3 285 330 147 146
Pennsylvania .....: 2.6 4.1 259 401 99 98
South Carolina ...: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
South Dakota .....: 0.2 0.2 24 22 138 114
Tennessee ........: 0.6 0.6 50 46 78 77
Texas ............: 3.9 3.9 262 359 66 92
Utah .............: 2.7 2.4 390 337 147 142
Virginia .........: 0.5 0.3 45 34 91 103
:
Washington .......: 0.6 0.5 96 93 159 175
West Virginia ....: (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
Wisconsin ........: 0.5 0.8 71 116 135 142
Wyoming ..........: 0.1 0.1 10 9 133 158
:
United States ....: 193.8 190.2 28,172 28,350 146 149
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Represents zero.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
1/ New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode
Island, and Vermont.
Livestock Slaughtered Under Federal Inspection, By Class - United States
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : : January to March : : : : January to March
Class : March : February : March :-----------------------: March : February : March :-----------------------
: 2011 : 2012 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: -------------------- 1,000 head ------------------- ----------------- percent of total ----------------
:
Cattle :
Steers ...........: 1,410 1,185 1,303 3,914 3,773 48.4 47.1 48.1 47.9 47.8
Heifers ..........: 904 781 839 2,530 2,386 31.0 31.1 31.0 30.9 30.2
All cows .........: 545 508 522 1,596 1,603 18.7 20.2 19.3 19.5 20.3
Dairy cows .......: 268 261 278 781 803 9.2 10.4 10.3 9.5 10.2
Other cows .......: 277 247 244 815 800 9.5 9.8 9.0 10.0 10.1
Bulls ............: 54 40 46 140 129 1.9 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.6
:
Total ............: 2,913 2,515 2,710 8,180 7,891 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
:
Calves and :
vealers ...... : 72 59 58 211 184 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
:
Hogs :
Barrows and :
gilts ..........: 9,501 8,712 9,178 26,467 27,086 97.0 97.1 97.1 97.1 97.1
Sows .............: 265 235 245 723 725 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.7 2.6
Boars ............: 29 28 30 81 85 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3
:
Total ............: 9,795 8,975 9,454 27,271 27,895 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
:
Sheep :
Mature :
sheep ..........: 11 8 9 28 26 5.9 5.5 5.0 5.9 5.3
Lambs and :
yearlings ......: 173 146 171 451 462 94.1 94.5 95.0 94.1 94.7
:
Total ............: 183 155 180 479 488 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federally Inspected Slaughter, Average Dressed Weight, By Class - United States
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : : January to March
Class : March : February : March :-----------------------
: 2011 : 2012 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: pounds
:
Cattle ............... : 771 790 788 776 787
Steers 1/ ...............: 827 855 846 837 851
Heifers 1/ ..............: 770 795 793 777 793
All cows 1/ .............: 613 622 626 614 617
Bulls 1/ ................: 877 877 889 870 876
:
Calves and vealers ... : 168 163 168 159 161
:
Hogs ................. : 208 208 209 208 209
Barrows and gilts 2/ ....: 206 206 206 206 206
Sows 2/ .................: 308 307 309 307 307
Boars 2/ ................: 211 209 206 210 208
:
Sheep ................ : 74 77 76 73 76
Mature sheep 3/ .........: 69 65 66 69 65
Lambs and yearlings 3/ ..: 74 77 76 73 77
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/ Included in cattle average dressed weight.
2/ Included in hog average dressed weight.
3/ Included in sheep average dressed weight.
Federally Inspected Slaughter - Regions and United States: March 2012
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Cattle : Calves
Standard :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
federal : : : : Cows : :
regions 1/ : Total : Steers :Heifers :--------------------------: Bulls : Total
: : : : All : Dairy : Other : :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: 1,000 head
:
1 ............: 1.2 0.5 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.5
2 ............: 5.6 1.6 0.6 3.0 2.6 0.4 0.5 13.1
3 ............: 84.4 31.6 1.4 49.2 39.4 9.8 2.1 9.9
4 ............: 70.2 2.5 1.1 56.8 16.3 40.6 9.8 0.3
5 ............: 315.2 136.0 34.9 135.1 79.3 55.8 9.2 18.7
6 ............: 540.4 286.7 149.0 94.2 34.9 59.3 10.5 0.6
7 ............:1,129.9 581.8 484.5 (D) (D) (D) (D) -
8 ............: 269.2 131.6 117.8 (D) (D) (D) (D) -
9 ............: 194.3 84.6 16.3 89.9 79.3 10.6 3.4 13.2
10 ...........: 100.1 46.2 33.4 19.3 16.7 2.7 1.2 2.2
:
United States :2,710.3 1,303.1 839.4 522.2 278.0 244.1 45.7 58.5
:----------------------------------------------------------------------
: Hogs : Sheep
:----------------------------------------------------------------------
: Total : Barrows : : : Total : Mature :Lambs and
: :and gilts: Sows : Boars : : sheep :yearlings
:----------------------------------------------------------------------
: 1,000 head
:
1 ............: 1.4 1.3 - - 2.2 0.1 2.1
2 ............: 12.2 11.9 0.1 0.2 12.1 1.8 10.3
3 ............: 457.9 456.8 (D) (D) 7.8 0.3 7.5
4 ............: 1,294.6 1,223.5 (D) (D) 3.4 0.9 2.5
5 ............: 2,647.7 2,534.8 107.5 5.3 29.6 2.5 27.1
6 ............: 480.6 465.4 15.1 - 1.5 0.5 1.0
7 ............: 3,940.9 3,865.9 53.8 21.1 0.5 - 0.5
8 ............: 387.8 387.7 0.1 - 94.2 2.4 91.9
9 ............: 203.8 203.7 0.1 - 26.3 0.4 25.9
10 ...........: 26.7 26.7 - - 2.4 0.1 2.3
:
United States : 9,453.6 9,177.7 245.3 30.5 180.0 9.0 171.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Represents zero.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
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 - Regions and United States: January to March 2012
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: Cattle : Calves
Standard :-----------------------------------------------------------------------
federal : : : : Cows : :
regions 1/ : Total : Steers :Heifers :--------------------------: Bulls : Total
: : : : All : Dairy : Other : :
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: 1,000 head
:
1 ............: 3.8 1.6 0.9 0.7 0.3 0.3 0.6 1.6
2 ............: 17.0 5.0 1.8 8.8 7.6 1.3 1.4 40.8
3 ............: 255.5 90.6 10.4 148.6 118.8 29.8 5.9 27.9
4 ............: 208.2 6.9 3.4 169.3 47.5 121.8 28.5 0.8
5 ............: 931.5 380.2 100.7 425.1 237.2 188.0 25.4 59.5
6 ............:1,593.9 793.6 468.3 302.5 97.2 205.2 29.5 3.6
7 ............:3,251.1 1,701.7 1,356.7 (D) (D) (D) (D) 0.1
8 ............: 785.8 413.0 313.8 (D) (D) (D) (D) -
9 ............: 562.0 241.2 46.0 264.6 224.1 40.5 10.2 43.4
10 ...........: 281.9 139.0 84.4 55.4 45.0 10.4 3.1 6.6
:
United States :7,890.6 3,772.8 2,386.4 1,602.5 803.0 799.5 128.8 184.4
:----------------------------------------------------------------------
: Hogs : Sheep
:----------------------------------------------------------------------
: Total : Barrows : : : Total : Mature :Lambs and
: :and gilts : Sows : Boars : : sheep :yearlings
:----------------------------------------------------------------------
: 1,000 head
:
1 ............: 4.0 3.8 0.1 0.1 5.7 0.3 5.4
2 ............: 35.5 34.6 0.4 0.4 31.2 5.0 26.2
3 ............: 1,289.5 1,286.4 (D) (D) 21.1 1.3 19.8
4 ............: 3,894.5 3,681.8 (D) (D) 9.0 2.4 6.6
5 ............: 7,801.1 7,466.9 318.9 15.2 76.7 7.1 69.5
6 ............: 1,467.1 1,420.7 45.5 1.0 4.4 1.8 2.6
7 ............: 11,569.5 11,358.1 154.9 56.4 1.3 - 1.2
8 ............: 1,157.6 1,157.2 0.4 - 260.1 6.4 253.7
9 ............: 596.4 596.2 0.2 - 72.7 1.1 71.7
10 ...........: 80.0 79.9 0.1 - 6.1 0.4 5.7
:
United States : 27,895.2 27,085.6 724.7 84.9 488.3 25.9 462.5
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Represents zero.
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: : : : January to March
Species : March : February : March :------------------------
: 2011 : 2012 : 2012 : 2011 : 2012
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
: percent
:
Cattle .......: 98.4 98.3 98.5 98.4 98.3
Calves .......: 98.3 98.5 98.4 98.5 98.4
Hogs .........: 99.2 99.2 99.3 99.2 99.3
Sheep ........: 94.7 93.5 94.6 94.0 93.8
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 nearly 800 livestock slaughter plants in the United States
operating under Federal Inspection and over 1,900 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 15). 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.
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.
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 nass@nass.usda.gov
Dan Kerestes, Chief, Livestock Branch ........... (202) 720-3570
Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section ........... (202) 690-2424
Travis Averill - Cattle, Cattle on Feed ...... (202) 720-3040
Sherry Bertramsen - Livestock Slaughter ...... (515) 284-4340
Doug Bounds - Hogs and Pigs, Goats ........... (202) 720-3106
Mike Miller - Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278
Lorie Warren - Dairy Products, Sheep ......... (202) 690-3236
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: http://www.nass.usda.gov
Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e-
mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit
http://www.nass.usda.gov and in the "Receive NASS Updates" box under
"Receive reports by Email," click on "National" or "State" to select
the reports you would like to receive.
Printed reports may be purchased from the National Technical
Information Service (NTIS) by calling toll-free (800) 999-6779, or
(703) 605-6220 if calling from outside the United States or Canada.
Accepted methods of payment are Visa, MasterCard, check, or money
order.
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:
nass@nass.usda.gov.
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in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national
origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial
status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs,
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