Total red meat production for the United States totaled 47.4 billion pounds in 2014, 4 percent lower than the previous
year. Red meat includes beef, veal, pork, and lamb and mutton. Red meat production in commercial plants totaled 47.3
billion pounds. On-farm slaughter totaled 93.4 million pounds.
Beef production totaled 24.3 billion pounds, down 6 percent from the previous year. Veal production totaled 100 million
pounds, down 15 percent from last year. Pork production, at 22.9 billion pounds, was down 1 percent from the previous
year. Lamb and mutton production totaled 161 million pounds, down slightly from 2013.
Commercial cattle slaughter during 2014 totaled 30.2 million head, down 7 percent from 2013, with federal inspection
comprising 98.4 percent of the total. The average live weight was 1,330 pounds, up 16 pounds from a year ago. Steers
comprised 51.8 percent of the total federally inspected cattle slaughter, heifers 28.2 percent, dairy cows 9.5 percent, other
cows 8.6 percent, and bulls 1.8 percent.
Commercial calf slaughter totaled 565,800 head, 26 percent lower than a year ago with 98.5 percent under federal
inspection. The average live weight was 283 pounds, up 33 pounds from a year earlier.
Commercial hog slaughter totaled 106.9 million head, 5 percent lower than 2013 with 99.3 percent of the hogs slaughtered
under federal inspection. The average live weight was up 9 pounds from last year, at 285 pounds. Barrows and gilts
comprised 97.1 percent of the total federally inspected hog slaughter.
Commercial sheep and lamb slaughter, at 2.31 million head, was down slightly from the previous year with 91.1 percent
by federal inspection. The average live weight was unchanged from 2013 at 135 pounds. Lambs and yearlings comprised
93.5 percent of the total federally inspected sheep slaughter.
For a full copy of the Livestock Slaughter 2014 Summary report please visit www.nass.usda.gov. For state specific questions, please contact:
Arizona – Dave DeWalt 1-800-645-7286
Colorado – William R. Meyer 1-800-392-3202
Montana – Eric Sommer 1-800-835-2612
New Mexico – Longino Bustillos 1-800-530-8810
Utah – John Hilton 1-800-747-8522
Wyoming – Rhonda Brandt 1-800-892-1660
