Livestock Slaughter

0
561

ISSN: 0499-0544

Released April 23, 2015, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).

Red Meat Production Up 7 Percent From Last Year

March 2014 contained 21 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 5 Saturdays.
March 2015 contained 22 weekdays (including 0 holidays) and 4 Saturdays.

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.06 billion
pounds in March, up 7 percent from the 3.81 billion pounds produced in March
2014.

Beef production, at 1.93 billion pounds, was slightly below the previous
year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.38 million head, down 3 percent from March
2014. The average live weight was up 30 pounds from the previous year, at
1,348 pounds.

Veal production totaled 6.9 million pounds, 21 percent below March a year
ago. Calf slaughter totaled 39,700 head, down 26 percent from March 2014. The
average live weight was up 18 pounds from last year, at 295 pounds.

Pork production totaled 2.11 billion pounds, up 14 percent from the previous
year. Hog slaughter totaled 9.89 million head, up 14 percent from March 2014.
The average live weight was unchanged from the previous year, at 285 pounds.

Lamb and mutton production, at 14.3 million pounds, was up 8 percent from
March 2014. Sheep slaughter totaled 204,600 head, 8 percent above last year.
The average live weight was 140 pounds, up 1 pound from March a year ago.

January to March 2015 commercial red meat production was 11.9 billion pounds,
up 1 percent from 2014. Accumulated beef production was down 3 percent from
last year, veal was down 24 percent, pork was up 7 percent from last year,
and lamb and mutton production was up 1 percent.

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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 2014 and 2015………..  7

Commercial Calf Slaughter – States and United States: March 2014 and 2015………….  8

Commercial Hog Slaughter – States and United States: March 2014 and 2015…………..  9

Commercial Sheep and Lamb Slaughter – States and United States: March 2014 and 2015… 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 2015…………….. 12

Federally Inspected Slaughter – Regions and United States: January to March 2015…… 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 2015 as % of  :      January to March
:  March   : February :  March   :—————————————————-
Type       :   2014   :   2015   :   2015   :  March   : February  :         :         :2015 as %
:          :          :          :   2014   :   2015    :  2014   :  2015   : of 2014
——————————————————————————————————–
: ——- million pounds ——      — percent —       million pounds     percent
:
Beef ………….: 1,938.4    1,768.7    1,931.6      100         109      5,867.6   5,664.1      97
Veal ………….:     8.7        6.3        6.9       79         109         26.2      20.0      76
Pork ………….: 1,854.4    1,945.2    2,111.5      114         109      5,784.4   6,161.4     107
Lamb and mutton ..:    13.2       11.6       14.3      108         123         37.2      37.5     101
:
Total red meat …: 3,814.7    3,731.8    4,064.3      107         109     11,715.4  11,883.0     101
——————————————————————————————————–

Federally Inspected Red Meat Production – United States
[Totals, accumulated totals and percentages based on unrounded data]
——————————————————————————————————–
:          :          :          :  March 2015 as % of  :      January to March
:  March   : February :  March   :—————————————————-
Type       :   2014   :   2015   :   2015   :  March   : February  :         :         :2015 as %
:          :          :          :   2014   :   2015    :  2014   :  2015   : of 2014
——————————————————————————————————–
: ——- million pounds ——      — percent —       million pounds     percent
:
Beef ………….: 1,913.3    1,744.6    1,907.2      100         109      5,787.1   5,588.1      97
Veal ………….:     8.6        6.2        6.8       79         110         25.8      19.7      76
Pork ………….: 1,843.7    1,934.6    2,099.1      114         109      5,751.7   6,127.3     107
Lamb and mutton ..:    12.6       10.8       13.5      107         125         35.2      35.3     100
:
Total red meat …: 3,778.1    3,696.2    4,026.6      107         109     11,599.7  11,770.3     101
——————————————————————————————————–

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     :  2015 as %   :——————————————–
Species           :     2014     :     2015     :     2015     :   of 2014    :              :              :  2015 as %
:              :              :              :              :     2014     :     2015     :   of 2014
————————————————————————————————————————————–
:                                                percent                                      percent
:
Cattle                       :
Number of head               :
Federally inspected ..1,000:   2,412.5        2,134.5        2,341.5           97           7,250.5        6,852.5          95
Other …………….1,000:      38.6           36.4           36.9           96             123.7          114.8          93
Commercial ………..1,000:   2,451.1        2,170.9        2,378.4           97           7,374.2        6,967.3          94
Live weight per head         :
Federally inspected .pounds:   1,321          1,359          1,351            102           1,331          1,357           102
Other ……………pounds:   1,145          1,159          1,161            101           1,148          1,163           101
Commercial ……….pounds:   1,318          1,355          1,348            102           1,328          1,354           102
:
Calves                       :
Number of head               :
Federally inspected ..1,000:      52.9           36.1           39.2           74             166.4          114.6          69
Other …………….1,000:       0.7            0.6            0.5           71               2.1            1.7          80
Commercial ………..1,000:      53.6           36.7           39.7           74             168.5          116.3          69
Live weight per head         :
Federally inspected .pounds:     276            292            294            107             264            292           111
Other ……………pounds:     387            396            370             96             378            379           100
Commercial ……….pounds:     277            293            295            107             265            293           111
:
Hogs                         :
Number of head               :
Federally inspected ..1,000:   8,613.8        9,017.7        9,817.6          114          26,948.8       28,533.7         106
Other …………….1,000:      59.9           59.1           68.1          114             182.6          189.1         104
Commercial ………..1,000:   8,673.7        9,076.8        9,885.7          114          27,131.4       28,722.9         106
Live weight per head         :
Federally inspected .pounds:     285            285            285            100             284            286           101
Other ……………pounds:     245            245            248            101             245            247           101
Commercial ……….pounds:     285            285            285            100             284            286           101
:
Sheep and lambs              :
Number of head               :
Federally inspected ..1,000:     176.5          149.9          190.0          108             498.8          492.9          99
Other …………….1,000:      13.3           14.8           14.6          110              39.5           43.1         109
Commercial ………..1,000:     189.8          164.7          204.6          108             538.3          536.0         100
Live weight per head         :
Federally inspected .pounds:     142            144            142            100             141            143           102
Other ……………pounds:      99            109            112            112             104            108           104
Commercial ……….pounds:     139            141            140            100             138            140           102
:
Goats                        :
Number of head               :
Federally inspected ..1,000:      36.4           28.3           38.2          105             103.4          101.4          98
Other …………….1,000:      12.2            9.3           10.3           85              35.7           30.9          87
Commercial ………..1,000:      48.6           37.6           48.5          100             139.1          132.4          95
Live weight per head         :
Federally inspected .pounds:      64             63             63             98              64             63            98
Other ……………pounds:      77             81             82            106              70             81           115
Commercial ……….pounds:      67             68             67             99              66             67           102
:
Bison                        :
Number of head               :
Federally inspected ..1,000:       4.7            4.0            4.6          100              13.3           13.4         101
Other …………….1,000:       0.9            0.8            1.1          121               2.6            2.7         102
Commercial ………..1,000:       5.6            4.7            5.7          103              15.9           16.1         101
————————————————————————————————————————————–

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 2015 as
:     2014     :     2015     :     2015     :    % of 2014
————————————————————————————–
:   ———– million pounds ———-          percent
:
Alabama ……………:       0.8            0.6            0.8            104
Alaska …………….:       (Y)            (Y)            (Y)            (X)
Arizona ……………:      30.9           35.3           35.9            116
Arkansas …………..:       0.4            0.3            0.4             92
California …………:     142.6          103.9          109.3             77
Colorado …………..:     162.2          160.4          175.3            108
Delaware-Maryland …..:       2.6            2.5            2.9            113
Florida ……………:       8.5            6.4            7.7             91
Georgia ……………:      11.1            9.5           11.0             99
Hawaii …………….:       0.8            0.8            0.7            100
:
Idaho ……………..:       3.3            3.4            3.7            110
Illinois …………..:     242.8          253.6          279.7            115
Indiana ……………:     143.9          143.4          150.9            105
Iowa ………………:     524.0          569.2          608.6            116
Kansas …………….:     396.9          370.6          412.2            104
Kentucky …………..:      41.5           43.3           49.5            119
Louisiana ………….:       0.5            0.4            0.5            115
Michigan …………..:      41.1           34.1           37.2             91
Minnesota ………….:     206.0          207.6          223.0            108
Mississippi ………..:       0.7            0.4            0.6             75
:
Missouri …………..:     158.1          152.6          169.1            107
Montana ……………:       1.3            0.8            0.8             67
Nebraska …………..:     562.1          548.2          601.8            107
Nevada …………….:       0.1            0.1            0.1            161
New England 1/ ……..:       1.4            1.2            1.5            108
New Jersey …………:       3.7            3.4            4.0            107
New Mexico …………:       0.3            0.3            0.3            120
New York …………..:       2.7            2.5            2.6             98
North Carolina ……..:     193.7          205.1          227.2            117
North Dakota ……….:       0.7            0.7            0.8            114
:
Ohio ………………:      21.4           20.1           23.2            108
Oklahoma …………..:      91.3           96.4           97.8            107
Oregon …………….:       6.3            5.8            6.5            103
Pennsylvania ……….:     101.4          101.0          112.2            111
South Carolina ……..:      20.5           17.1           21.3            104
South Dakota ……….:      87.6           90.2          104.7            120
Tennessee ………….:      15.2           17.8           21.3            140
Texas ……………..:     336.9          304.2          319.6             95
Utah ………………:      38.4           35.2           37.8             98
Virginia …………..:      39.2           38.5           45.8            117
:
Washington …………:      68.3           62.8           66.3             97
West Virginia ………:       0.5            0.4            0.5            115
Wisconsin ………….:     102.9           81.1           88.7             86
Wyoming ……………:       0.4            0.4            0.4            104
:
United States ………:   3,814.7        3,731.8        4,064.3            107
————————————————————————————–
(X) Not applicable.
(Y) Less than level of precision shown.
1/  New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode
Island, and Vermont.

Commercial Cattle Slaughter – States and United States: March 2014 and 2015
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
—————————————————————————————
:  Number slaughtered   :  Total live weight   : Average live weight
State      :——————————————————————–
:   2014    :   2015    :   2014    :   2015   :   2014   :   2015
—————————————————————————————
:  —- 1,000 head —    — 1,000 pounds —    —- pounds —-
:
Alabama ……….:      0.6         0.5          611        577    1,033      1,084
Alaska ………..:      (Y)         (Y)          (X)        (X)      (X)        (X)
Arizona ……….:     40.3        44.9       53,122     60,496    1,323      1,350
Arkansas ………:      0.5         0.4          479        378      934      1,020
California …….:    142.3       100.7      185,065    132,340    1,308      1,327
Colorado ………:    185.2       194.7      248,121    266,732    1,340      1,371
Delaware-Maryland :      2.8         3.0        3,551      4,058    1,273      1,342
Florida ……….:      (D)        11.7          (D)     14,676      (D)      1,266
Georgia ……….:      (D)         (D)          (D)        (D)      (D)        (D)
Hawaii ………..:      0.9         0.8          984        955    1,121      1,144
:
Idaho …………:      2.1         2.5        2,340      2,898    1,175      1,231
Illinois ………:      (D)         (D)          (D)        (D)      (D)        (D)
Indiana ……….:      2.9         2.7        3,105      2,884    1,058      1,069
Iowa ………….:      (D)         (D)          (D)        (D)      (D)        (D)
Kansas ………..:    475.5       478.8      613,449    637,397    1,291      1,332
Kentucky ………:      1.3         1.3        1,283      1,334      995      1,057
Louisiana ……..:      0.4         0.5          392        442      881        911
Michigan ………:     46.3        41.0       63,184     56,698    1,370      1,392
Minnesota ……..:     59.9        48.9       86,844     74,116    1,458      1,523
Mississippi ……:      0.1         0.3           75        252      742        838
:
Missouri ………:      5.1         4.6        5,657      5,311    1,102      1,148
Montana ……….:      1.8         1.0        1,982      1,115    1,113      1,159
Nebraska ………:    516.9       524.0      719,272    746,349    1,393      1,426
Nevada ………..:      0.1         0.1           80        106    1,051        987
New England 1/ …:      1.4         1.5        1,506      1,711    1,089      1,139
New Jersey …….:      2.9         2.8        3,132      3,010    1,094      1,096
New Mexico …….:      0.3         0.3          295        323    1,038      1,096
New York ………:      2.5         2.4        2,917      2,812    1,165      1,183
North Carolina …:      6.1         5.7        7,427      6,843    1,216      1,210
North Dakota …..:      0.9         1.0        1,063      1,231    1,217      1,265
:
Ohio ………….:      8.2         7.5        9,666      8,780    1,197      1,186
Oklahoma ………:      2.1         2.3        2,239      2,422    1,063      1,051
Oregon ………..:      5.3         4.9        6,525      6,109    1,240      1,249
Pennsylvania …..:     76.4        83.0       93,282    101,558    1,225      1,228
South Carolina …:     14.0        14.7       15,840     17,799    1,145      1,226
South Dakota …..:      (D)         (D)          (D)        (D)      (D)        (D)
Tennessee ……..:      4.3         5.1        3,706      4,713      865        947
Texas …………:    435.1       404.1      547,365    517,296    1,261      1,283
Utah ………….:     45.6        44.6       62,775     61,097    1,378      1,372
Virginia ………:      1.0         0.9          971        991    1,021      1,058
:
Washington …….:     85.3        79.9      112,125    107,955    1,318      1,354
West Virginia ….:      0.6         0.6          591        612    1,023      1,032
Wisconsin ……..:    117.9        96.3      162,145    133,004    1,383      1,390
Wyoming ……….:      0.5         0.5          545        538    1,135      1,098
:
United States ….:  2,451.1     2,378.4    3,223,581  3,198,282    1,318      1,348
—————————————————————————————
(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.

Commercial Calf Slaughter – States and United States: March 2014 and 2015
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
—————————————————————————————
:  Number slaughtered   :  Total live weight   : Average live weight
State      :——————————————————————–
:   2014    :   2015    :   2014    :   2015   :   2014   :   2015
—————————————————————————————
:   — 1,000 head —       — 1,000 pounds —      — pounds —
:
Alabama ……….:    (Y)         (Y)          (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)
Alaska ………..:    (Y)         (Y)          (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)
Arizona ……….:    (Y)         (Y)          (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)
Arkansas ………:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)
California …….:   12.6         8.7        1,209         858       97        100
Colorado ………:    (Y)         (D)          (X)         (D)      (X)        (D)
Delaware-Maryland :    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)
Florida ……….:    (D)         (Y)          (D)         (X)      (D)        (X)
Georgia ……….:    0.1         (Y)           49         (X)      563        (X)
Hawaii ………..:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)
:
Idaho …………:    (Y)         (D)          (X)         (D)      (X)        (D)
Illinois ………:    1.1         0.7          494         295      432        431
Indiana ……….:    0.6         0.3          162          92      286        326
Iowa ………….:    (D)         (Y)          (D)         (X)      (D)        (X)
Kansas ………..:    (Y)         (Y)          (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)
Kentucky ………:    (Y)         (Y)          (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)
Louisiana ……..:    0.1         (Y)           50         (X)      497        (X)
Michigan ………:    0.1         0.1           34          31      304        301
Minnesota ……..:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)
Mississippi ……:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)
:
Missouri ………:    (Y)         (Y)          (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)
Montana ……….:    (Y)         (D)          (X)         (D)      (X)        (D)
Nebraska ………:    (D)         (Y)          (D)         (X)      (D)        (X)
Nevada ………..:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)
New England 1/ …:    0.4         0.3           57          48      136        174
New Jersey …….:    5.0         5.5        2,100       2,344      423        428
New Mexico …….:    (D)         (Y)          (D)         (X)      (D)        (X)
New York ………:    6.1         4.0          821         539      134        138
North Carolina …:    0.1         (Y)           34         (X)      458        (X)
North Dakota …..:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)
:
Ohio ………….:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)
Oklahoma ………:    (Y)         (Y)          (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)
Oregon ………..:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)
Pennsylvania …..:   11.0         7.2        4,410       3,061      401        427
South Carolina …:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)
South Dakota …..:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)
Tennessee ……..:    (Y)         (Y)          (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)
Texas …………:    0.6         0.4          356         215      574        578
Utah ………….:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)
Virginia ………:    (Y)         (Y)          (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)
:
Washington …….:    (D)         1.2          (D)          88      (D)         74
West Virginia ….:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)
Wisconsin ……..:    6.4         5.3        2,961       2,427      461        459
Wyoming ……….:    (D)         (D)          (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)
:
United States ….:   53.6        39.7       14,794      11,669      277        295
—————————————————————————————
(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.

Commercial Hog Slaughter – States and United States: March 2014 and 2015
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
—————————————————————————————
:  Number slaughtered   :  Total live weight   : Average live weight
State      :——————————————————————–
:   2014    :   2015    :   2014    :   2015   :   2014   :   2015
—————————————————————————————
:  —- 1,000 head —    — 1,000 pounds —     — pounds —
:
Alabama ……….:      1.8         1.9          640        729     359        377
Alaska ………..:      0.1         0.1           21         24     273        247
Arizona ……….:      0.2         0.2           50         49     269        252
Arkansas ………:      0.8         0.8          199        220     248        272
California …….:    188.5       185.6       46,561     46,711     247        252
Colorado ………:      1.2         1.4          292        336     238        244
Delaware-Maryland :      1.5         1.7          401        445     263        267
Florida ……….:      3.0         4.0          598        646     199        162
Georgia ……….:      6.1         6.7        1,487      1,646     245        246
Hawaii ………..:      1.0         1.0          258        256     249        254
:
Idaho …………:     10.8        10.7        2,785      2,833     259        265
Illinois ………:    852.8       996.0      246,033    286,917     289        288
Indiana ……….:    669.3       701.5      186,273    196,056     278        280
Iowa ………….:  2,283.4     2,646.2      653,019    753,501     286        285
Kansas ………..:      (D)         (D)          (D)        (D)     (D)        (D)
Kentucky ………:      (D)         (D)          (D)        (D)     (D)        (D)
Louisiana ……..:      1.1         1.3          246        305     223        226
Michigan ………:     16.5        15.2        6,457      5,935     391        392
Minnesota ……..:    786.8       902.2      214,722    245,255     273        272
Mississippi ……:      3.8         3.3          967        531     254        161
:
Missouri ………:    705.1       758.7      205,016    219,990     291        290
Montana ……….:      0.7         0.9          168        242     225        263
Nebraska ………:    563.3       685.8      158,165    191,044     281        279
Nevada ………..:      (Y)         0.1          (X)         28     (X)        248
New England 1/ …:      1.9         1.9          511        506     274        260
New Jersey …….:      7.5         8.5          692        816      93         96
New Mexico …….:      0.1         0.2           30         63     277        275
New York ………:      2.5         2.9          568        670     229        232
North Carolina …:      (D)         (D)          (D)        (D)     (D)        (D)
North Dakota …..:      0.3         0.3           98         78     289        308
:
Ohio ………….:     70.9        86.0       20,506     23,864     290        278
Oklahoma ………:    407.7       452.3      117,884    126,430     289        280
Oregon ………..:     14.2        15.4        3,685      4,073     259        265
Pennsylvania …..:    222.9       252.9       59,787     67,795     268        268
South Carolina …:      (D)         (D)          (D)        (D)     (D)        (D)
South Dakota …..:      (D)         (D)          (D)        (D)     (D)        (D)
Tennessee ……..:     44.7        62.6       20,045     28,259     449        452
Texas …………:     21.7        24.1        5,618      5,837     260        243
Utah ………….:      2.3         3.7          519        642     230        175
Virginia ………:      (D)         (D)          (D)        (D)     (D)        (D)
:
Washington …….:      (D)         (D)          (D)        (D)     (D)        (D)
West Virginia ….:      0.5         0.8          126        220     236        277
Wisconsin ……..:     56.4        56.3       24,864     25,393     442        452
Wyoming ……….:      0.2         0.3           60         84     259        271
:
United States ….:  8,673.7     9,885.7    2,469,997  2,811,778     285        285
—————————————————————————————
(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.

Commercial Sheep and Lamb Slaughter – States and United States: March 2014 and 2015
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
—————————————————————————————
:  Number slaughtered   :  Total live weight   : Average live weight
State      :——————————————————————–
:   2014    :   2015    :   2014    :   2015   :   2014   :   2015
—————————————————————————————
:   — 1,000 head —      — 1,000 pounds —      — pounds —
:
Alabama ……….:     (Y)         (Y)         (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)
Alaska ………..:     (Y)         (Y)         (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)
Arizona ……….:     0.3         0.3          37          39      142        129
Arkansas ………:     0.1         0.1           5           8       92        108
California …….:    25.7        27.3       3,729       3,884      145        142
Colorado ………:    82.6        85.4      13,047      14,064      158        165
Delaware-Maryland :     3.6         3.5         347         357       97        102
Florida ……….:     0.6         1.3          39          87       66         69
Georgia ……….:     1.0         0.6          62          43       60         70
Hawaii ………..:     0.1         0.2           8          24      129        141
:
Idaho …………:     0.1         0.1          13          11      136        144
Illinois ………:    12.7         (D)       1,995         (D)      157        (D)
Indiana ……….:     3.8         4.0         434         441      115        111
Iowa ………….:     0.1         0.2          22          30      180        147
Kansas ………..:     0.4         0.4          42          37       99         91
Kentucky ………:     1.1         1.3         134         156      124        121
Louisiana ……..:     0.3         0.5          24          41       77         88
Michigan ………:    16.0        18.0       2,184       2,495      136        139
Minnesota ……..:     0.3         0.3          43          41      124        119
Mississippi ……:     0.4         0.3          26          24       74         70
:
Missouri ………:     0.6         0.7          72          73      123         98
Montana ……….:     0.2         0.3          33          39      135        112
Nebraska ………:     (Y)         0.1         (X)           8      (X)        124
Nevada ………..:     (Y)         (Y)         (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)
New England 1/ …:     2.8         2.9         291         264      102         91
New Jersey …….:     9.1        12.2         736         937       81         77
New Mexico …….:     0.8         0.8         113         119      148        148
New York ………:     3.4         5.7         343         507      100         89
North Carolina …:     0.9         1.0          65          69       71         72
North Dakota …..:     (Y)         (Y)         (X)         (X)      (X)        (X)
:
Ohio ………….:     0.7         1.2          75         127      104        103
Oklahoma ………:     0.2         0.4          18          42      106        103
Oregon ………..:     2.5         3.3         360         483      144        146
Pennsylvania …..:     5.3         6.0         540         597      101         99
South Carolina …:     (D)         (D)         (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)
South Dakota …..:     0.2         0.2          31          34      156        157
Tennessee ……..:     1.0         0.9          66          62       65         72
Texas …………:     7.9         7.5         737         851       93        113
Utah ………….:     (D)         2.1         (D)         291      (D)        137
Virginia ………:     0.2         0.5          24          47      105         95
:
Washington …….:     0.6         0.7          85          90      136        136
West Virginia ….:     (D)         (D)         (D)         (D)      (D)        (D)
Wisconsin ……..:     0.8         0.8         109         102      132        130
Wyoming ……….:     0.1         0.1           7          16      143        147
:
United States ….:   189.8       204.6      26,357      28,525      139        140
—————————————————————————————
(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 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   :———————–
:   2014   :   2015   :   2015   :   2014    :   2015    :   2014   :   2015   :   2015   :   2014    :   2015
————————————————————————————————————————————
: ——————— 1,000 head ——————–     —————– percent of total —————-
:
Cattle            :
Steers ………..: 1,199.1    1,055.1    1,178.6     3,596.1     3,442.3      49.7       49.4       50.3        49.6        50.2
Heifers ……….:   701.7      627.3      676.0     2,087.9     1,952.7      29.1       29.4       28.9        28.8        28.5
All cows ………:   465.9      422.3      449.4     1,440.6     1,352.6      19.3       19.8       19.2        19.9        19.7
Dairy cows …….:   245.7      242.3      260.7       752.5       778.4      10.2       11.4       11.1        10.4        11.4
Other cows …….:   220.1      180.0      188.6       688.1       574.2       9.1        8.4        8.1         9.5         8.4
Bulls …………:    45.9       29.8       37.5       125.9       105.0       1.9        1.4        1.6         1.7         1.5
:
Total …………: 2,412.5    2,134.5    2,341.5     7,250.5     6,852.5     100.0      100.0      100.0       100.0       100.0
:
Calves and        :
vealers ……   :    52.9       36.1       39.2       166.4       114.6     100.0      100.0      100.0       100.0       100.0
:
Hogs              :
Barrows and       :
gilts ……….: 8,355.6    8,775.2    9,547.3    26,180.2    27,757.5      97.0       97.3       97.2        97.1        97.3
Sows ………….:   228.6      222.0      247.3       685.5       704.4       2.7        2.5        2.5         2.5         2.5
Boars …………:    29.5       20.5       23.0        83.1        71.9       0.3        0.2        0.2         0.3         0.3
:
Total …………: 8,613.8    9,017.7    9,817.6    26,948.8    28,533.7     100.0      100.0      100.0       100.0       100.0
:
Sheep             :
Mature            :
sheep ……….:     9.7        7.7        9.5        29.2        26.0       5.5        5.1        5.0         5.8         5.3
Lambs and         :
yearlings ……:   166.8      142.2      180.5       469.7       466.9      94.5       94.9       95.0        94.2        94.7
:
Total …………:   176.5      149.9      190.0       498.8       492.9     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   :———————–
:   2014   :   2015   :   2015   :   2014    :   2015
———————————————————————————-
:                         pounds
:
Cattle ……………   :   795        819        816         800         817
Steers 1/ ……………:   855        880        873         865         879
Heifers 1/ …………..:   795        817        818         802         816
All cows 1/ ………….:   628        662        656         626         653
Bulls 1/ …………….:   898        918        927         885         919
:
Calves and vealers …   :   163        173        174         156         173
:
Hogs ……………..   :   214        215        214         214         215
Barrows and gilts 2/ ….:   212        212        211         211         213
Sows 2/ ……………..:   301        306        308         302         306
Boars 2/ …………….:   205        202        208         204         204
:
Sheep …………….   :    71         72         71          71          72
Mature sheep 3/ ………:    65         66         67          65          67
Lambs and yearlings 3/ ..:    72         72         71          71          72
———————————————————————————-
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 2015
[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 …………:    1.3      0.5     0.4      (D)      (D)      (D)      (D)      0.3
2 …………:    5.1      1.5     1.0      2.1      1.8      0.3      0.4      9.4
3 …………:   85.1     22.2     6.6     53.3     42.9     10.4      3.1      7.4
4 …………:   54.2      3.2     1.4     43.6     15.7     27.9      6.0      0.2
5 …………:  260.7    121.8    28.0    102.6     66.2     36.4      8.2     11.4
6 …………:  402.6    215.6   106.7     73.2     35.3     37.9      7.2      0.4
7 …………:1,048.7    578.7   402.0     60.8      3.8     56.9      7.2      (D)
8 …………:  250.9    136.3    95.4      (D)      (D)      (D)      (D)      (D)
9 …………:  146.1     54.3    10.8     78.4     71.1      7.3      2.6      8.5
10 ………..:   87.0     44.5    23.8     17.6     14.3      3.2      1.0      1.6
:
United States :2,341.5  1,178.6   676.0    449.4    260.7    188.6     37.5     39.2

:———————————————————————-
:                 Hogs                  :            Sheep
:———————————————————————-
:  Total  : Barrows :         :         :  Total  : Mature  :Lambs and
:         :and gilts:  Sows   :  Boars  :         :  sheep  :yearlings
:———————————————————————-
:                              1,000 head
:
1 …………:     1.7       1.6      (Y)      (Y)        2.9      0.1        2.7
2 …………:    11.3      11.1      0.1      (Y)       17.4      1.2       16.2
3 …………:   461.5     460.4      1.1      (Y)       10.7      1.1        9.6
4 …………:     (D)       (D)      (D)      0.6        5.1      1.2        3.9
5 …………: 2,728.0   2,603.0    120.2      4.9       31.9      2.6       29.3
6 …………:   470.8     470.5      0.3      (Y)        4.0      0.6        3.4
7 …………: 4,104.8   4,031.3     56.2     17.3        0.7      (Y)        0.7
8 …………:     (D)       (D)      (D)      (Y)       87.3      1.7       85.7
9 …………:   182.0     182.0      (Y)      (Y)       26.6      0.7       25.9
10 ………..:    27.6      27.5      (Y)      (Y)        3.4      0.4        3.0
:
United States : 9,817.6   9,547.3    247.3     23.0      190.0      9.5      180.5
————————————————————————————-
(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 – Regions and United States: January to March 2015
[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 …………:    3.9      1.6      1.1      (D)     (D)      (D)      (D)      0.8
2 …………:   14.9      4.3      2.9      6.4     5.2      1.2      1.3     27.5
3 …………:  244.7     62.0     17.9    156.9   126.8     30.1      8.0     21.8
4 …………:  151.8      8.8      4.0    122.0    44.4     77.6     17.1      0.4
5 …………:  765.9    358.3     86.4    298.5   189.5    109.1     22.7     36.3
6 …………:1,202.5    626.3    330.4    223.7   102.9    120.8     22.2      0.8
7 …………:3,039.1  1,676.9  1,151.9    190.9    12.6    178.3     19.4      (D)
8 …………:  725.5    411.5    256.8      (D)     (D)      (D)      (D)      (D)
9 …………:  445.8    160.8     32.7    245.4   222.0     23.4      6.8     23.3
10 ………..:  258.3    131.8     68.6     55.6    46.4      9.1      2.4      3.6
:
United States :6,852.5  3,442.3  1,952.7  1,352.6   778.4    574.2    105.0    114.6

:———————————————————————-
:                 Hogs                  :            Sheep
:———————————————————————-
:  Total   : Barrows  :        :        :  Total  : Mature  :Lambs and
:          :and gilts :  Sows  : Boars  :         :  sheep  :yearlings
:———————————————————————-
:                              1,000 head
:
1 …………:      4.6        4.4     0.1      0.1       6.8      0.3        6.5
2 …………:     32.6       32.2     0.3      0.1      39.4      3.2       36.2
3 …………:  1,320.6    1,317.7     2.8      0.2      26.4      3.6       22.8
4 …………:      (D)        (D)     (D)      8.2      12.0      2.8        9.3
5 …………:  7,941.2    7,590.4   337.3     13.6      88.5      6.6       81.9
6 …………:  1,428.1    1,426.7     0.8      0.5      10.2      1.6        8.6
7 …………: 12,010.4   11,799.9   161.4     49.1       2.1      0.1        2.1
8 …………:      (D)        (D)     (D)      (Y)     228.6      5.3      223.3
9 …………:    530.4      530.3     0.1      (Y)      70.5      1.7       68.7
10 ………..:     75.3       75.2     0.1      (Y)       8.3      0.8        7.5
:
United States : 28,533.7   27,757.5   704.4     71.9     492.9     26.0      466.9
————————————————————————————-
(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
——————————————————————————–
:             :             :            :    January to March
Species   :    March    :  February   :   March    :————————
:    2014     :    2015     :    2015    :    2014    :   2015
——————————————————————————–
:                             percent
:
Cattle …….:    98.4          98.3          98.4         98.3        98.4
Calves …….:    98.6          98.4          98.7         98.7        98.5
Hogs ………:    99.3          99.3          99.3         99.3        99.3
Sheep ……..:    93.0          91.0          92.9         92.7        92.0
——————————————————————————–

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 800 livestock slaughter plants in the United States
operating under Federal Inspection and nearly 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 [email protected]

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 …… (202) 720-3240
Doug Bounds – Hogs and Pigs ……………… (202) 720-3106
Donnie Fike – Dairy Products …………….. (202) 690-3236
Mike Miller – Milk Production and Milk Cows .. (202) 720-3278
Evan Schulz – Sheep and Goats…………….. (202) 720-6147

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 “Follow NASS” box under “Receive
reports by Email,” click on “National” or “State” to select the reports
you would like to receive.

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].

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination against
its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race,
color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion,
reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial
or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s
income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic
information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded
by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs
and/or employment activities.)
If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination,
complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (PDF), found online
at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA
office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a
letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your
completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue,
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at
[email protected].

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