USDA Livestock Slaughter 03/19
03/19/2026 | 2:00 pm CDT USDA Livestock Slaughter 03/19
Livestock Slaughter
ISSN: 0499-0544
Released March 19, 2026, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
Commercial Red Meat Production Down 2 Percent from Last Year
February 2025 contained 20 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.
February 2026 contained 20 weekdays (including 1 holiday) and 4 Saturdays.
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.14 billion
pounds in February, down 2 percent from the 4.23 billion pounds produced in
February 2025.
Beef production, at 1.93 billion pounds, was 4 percent below the previous
year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.17 million head, down 7 percent from
February 2025. The average live weight was up 34 pounds from the previous
year, at 1,466 pounds.
Veal production totaled 1.6 million pounds, 20 percent below February a year
ago. Calf slaughter totaled 8,200 head, down 27 percent from February 2025.
The average live weight was up 28 pounds from last year, at 342 pounds.
Pork production totaled 2.20 billion pounds, down slightly from the previous
year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.1 million head, down 1 percent from February
2025. The average live weight was up 1 pound from the previous year, at
292 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 10.8 million pounds, was up 3 percent from
February 2025. Sheep slaughter totaled 176,400 head, 4 percent above last
year. The average live weight was 121 pounds, down 2 pounds from February a
year ago.
January to February 2026 commercial red meat production was 8.72 billion
pounds, down 4 percent from 2025. Accumulated beef production was down
8 percent from last year, veal was down 27 percent, pork was down 1 percent
from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 1 percent.
Livestock Slaughter: Released March 19, 2026, by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Commercial Red Meat Production - United States
[Totals, accumulated totals, and percentages based on unrounded data]
================================================================================
Feb 2026 as % of Jan to Feb
Feb Jan Feb
Type 2025 2026 Feb Jan 2026 as %
2025 2026 2025 2026 of 2025
================================================================================
(million pounds) (%) (million pounds) (%)
Beef 2,020.2 2,118.51,932.8 96 91 4,390.3 4,051.3 92
Veal 2.0 1.6 1.6 80 99 4.5 3.3 73
Pork 2,200.5 2,449.52,199.4 100 90 4,702.3 4,648.9 99
Lamb and mutton 10.5 10.4 10.8 103 104 21.4 21.2 99
Total red meat 4,233.3 4,580.14,144.7 98 90 9,118.5 8,724.8 96
================================================================================
Livestock Slaughter: Released March 19, 2026, by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Federally Inspected Red Meat Production - United States
[Totals, accumulated totals, and percentages based on unrounded data]
================================================================================
Feb 2026 as % of Jan to Feb
Feb Jan Feb
Type 2025 2026 Feb Jan 2026 as %
2025 2026 2025 2026 of 2025
================================================================================
(million pounds) (%) (million pounds) (%)
Beef 1,989.2 2,086.31,902.7 96 91 4,324.9 3,989.0 92
Veal 1.9 1.5 1.5 78 99 4.3 3.0 71
Pork 2,192.0 2,441.22,191.8 100 90 4,684.5 4,633.0 99
Lamb and mutton 9.4 9.3 9.8 105 106 19.1 19.1 100
Total red meat 4,192.6 4,538.34,105.9 98 90 9,032.7 8,644.2 96
================================================================================
Livestock Slaughter: Released March 19, 2026, by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Livestock Slaughter and Live Weight - United States
[Totals, accumulated totals, and percentages based on unrounded data]
================================================================================
Feb Jan to Feb
Feb Jan Feb 2026 as %
Species 2025 2026 of 2025 2026 as %
2025 2026 of 2025
================================================================================
(%) (%)
Cattle
1,000 Head
Fed Inspect 2,280.2 2,333.9 2,128.7 93 4,948.5 4,462.6 90
Other 43.6 44.8 41.5 95 91.9 86.2 94
Commercial 2,323.8 2,378.6 2,170.2 93 5,040.5 4,548.9 90
Live Weight
Fed Inspect 1,436 1,468 1,469 102 1,440 1,469 102
Other 1,232 1,260 1,268 103 1,239 1,264 102
Commercial 1,432 1,464 1,466 102 1,436 1,465 102
Calves
1,000 Head
Fed Inspect 10.6 7.9 7.7 72 23.6 15.6 66
Other 0.6 0.6 0.6 95 1.2 1.2 97
Commercial 11.2 8.5 8.2 73 24.8 16.7 67
Live Weight
Fed Inspect 311 330 338 109 310 334 108
Other 372 396 396 106 376 396 105
Commercial 314 334 342 109 313 338 108
Hogs
1,000 Head
Fed Inspect 10,119.8 11,107.3 10,049.2 99 21,538.4 21,156.5 98
Other 44.2 43.1 39.1 88 92.7 82.2 89
Commercial 10,164.0 11,150.4 10,088.3 99 21,631.1 21,238.7 98
Live Weight
Fed Inspect 291 295 292 101 292 293 101
Other 264 264 266 101 264 265 101
Commercial 291 294 292 101 292 293 101
Sheep and lambs
1,000 Head
Fed Inspect 147.4 151.5 157.7 107 299.0 309.1 103
Other 21.7 21.2 18.8 87 43.6 40.0 92
Commercial 169.1 172.7 176.4 104 342.6 349.1 102
Live Weight
Fed Inspect 126 120 123 98 125 122 97
Other 102 105 102 100 105 103 99
Commercial 123 118 121 98 123 120 97
Goats
1,000 Head
Fed Inspect 42.0 41.4 42.1 100 85.5 83.5 98
Other 7.9 8.8 8.1 103 17.4 16.9 97
Commercial 49.9 50.3 50.1 101 102.9 100.4 98
Live Weight
Fed Inspect 65 64 64 99 64 64 100
Other 79 84 86 109 81 85 104
Commercial 67 68 68 101 67 68 101
Bison
1,000 Head
Fed Inspect 5.3 4.6 3.9 74 11.4 8.6 75
Other 0.3 0.3 0.4 137 0.7 0.7 107
Commercial 5.6 4.9 4.4 77 12.1 9.3 77
================================================================================
Livestock Slaughter: Released March 19, 2026, by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Commercial Red Meat Production - States and United States
[Includes total beef, veal, pork, lamb, and mutton. Totals and percentages based
on unrounded data]
================================================================================
State Feb Jan Feb Feb 2026 as
2025 2026 % of 2025
================================================================================
(million pounds) (%)
AL 0.9 1.0 1.0 108
AK (Y) 0.1 0.1 (X)
AZ 39.2 39.8 37.7 96
AR 0.4 0.5 0.5 117
CA 80.9 86.0 79.9 99
CO 164.9 185.9 166.3 101
DE-MD 1.9 1.9 1.9 99
FL 4.8 4.3 4.6 95
GA 7.3 10.0 9.6 132
HI 0.6 0.6 0.7 112
ID 43.1 47.0 42.4 98
IL 262.7 293.3 262.7 100
IN 159.8 177.3 158.7 99
IA 704.7 807.8 720.6 102
KS 443.8 464.8 434.3 98
KY 47.2 52.6 52.6 112
LA 0.4 0.4 0.3 97
MI 126.0 138.1 125.9 100
MN 213.6 240.1 217.1 102
MS 0.8 0.7 0.8 101
MO 161.0 194.6 177.7 110
MT 1.4 1.3 1.6 118
NE 589.9 622.5 549.7 93
NV 0.1 0.1 0.1 86
New Engl 1/ 2.5 2.3 2.1 86
NJ 4.0 4.1 4.3 108
NM 0.4 0.5 0.4 87
NY 2.6 2.7 2.7 104
NC 234.5 226.8 195.9 84
ND 0.8 0.9 0.7 94
OH 23.6 24.2 23.7 101
OK 96.8 99.1 100.7 104
OR 2.1 2.3 2.1 97
PA 126.8 127.7 119.6 94
SC 15.0 11.7 11.4 76
SD 119.0 127.2 111.2 93
TN 21.2 26.3 24.0 113
TX 330.8 333.6 296.3 90
UT 43.8 47.9 44.8 102
VA 1.1 1.1 1.3 123
WA 65.5 78.6 70.7 108
WV 0.9 0.6 0.6 64
WI 85.6 91.2 85.1 99
WY 0.9 0.8 0.8 83
US 4,233.3 4,580.1 4,144.7 98
================================================================================
(X) Not applicable.
(Y) Less than level of precision shown.
1/ New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode
Island, and Vermont.
Livestock Slaughter: Released March 19, 2026, by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Commercial Cattle Slaughter - States and United States: February 2025 and 2026
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
================================================================================
Slaughtered Total live weight Average live weight
State
2025 2026 2025 2026 2025 2026
================================================================================
(1,000 head) (1,000 pounds) (pounds)
AL 0.8 0.7 900 857 1,135 1,197
AK 0.1 0.1 70 87 1,134 1,142
AZ (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
AR 0.6 0.6 634 703 1,007 1,119
CA 83.4 82.7 119,843 116,558 1,447 1,419
CO 174.8 169.0 259,864 258,910 1,488 1,533
DE-MD 1.8 1.8 2,502 2,531 1,357 1,413
FL (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
GA (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
HI 0.8 0.8 942 1,051 1,178 1,248
ID 52.5 50.3 73,038 69,856 1,398 1,398
IL (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
IN 7.8 9.4 9,088 12,137 1,180 1,296
IA 43.3 44.4 62,906 65,229 1,455 1,470
KS 473.4 453.0 682,205 668,033 1,441 1,475
KY 5.8 5.6 6,779 6,809 1,182 1,233
LA 0.5 0.4 514 462 1,032 1,038
MI (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
MN (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
MS 0.6 0.5 591 546 1,037 1,064
MO 4.5 19.9 5,666 27,386 1,261 1,384
MT 1.6 1.9 1,993 2,369 1,256 1,272
NE 485.6 426.9 725,837 657,006 1,496 1,541
NV (D) 0.1 (D) 82 (D) 1,190
New Engl 1/ 2.7 2.3 3,270 2,842 1,236 1,262
NJ 4.5 4.4 5,287 5,125 1,169 1,169
NM 0.5 0.4 585 482 1,129 1,103
NY 2.7 2.8 3,389 3,640 1,255 1,308
NC (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
ND 1.0 0.8 1,234 1,154 1,289 1,361
OH 5.6 5.8 7,453 7,782 1,327 1,337
OK 6.1 6.9 7,381 8,483 1,217 1,244
OR 1.1 1.0 1,383 1,239 1,205 1,274
PA 87.0 79.3 116,510 108,213 1,344 1,369
SC 20.8 16.2 29,289 22,151 1,413 1,374
SD 34.9 (D) 53,153 (D) 1,528 (D)
TN 2.9 2.9 2,942 3,023 1,034 1,072
TX 395.2 338.4 538,499 479,779 1,366 1,422
UT (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
VA 1.3 1.6 1,379 1,871 1,055 1,186
WA 73.0 75.4 106,496 113,161 1,463 1,504
WV 1.1 0.6 1,311 779 1,212 1,287
WI 89.8 87.8 126,575 124,532 1,418 1,425
WY 1.2 1.0 1,425 1,171 1,206 1,231
US 2,323.8 2,170.2 3,322,068 3,173,867 1,432 1,466
================================================================================
(D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations.
1/ New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode
Island, and Vermont.
Livestock Slaughter: Released March 19, 2026, by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Commercial Calf Slaughter - States and United States: February 2025 and 2026
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
================================================================================
Slaughtered Total live weight Average live weight
State
2025 2026 2025 2026 2025 2026
================================================================================
(1,000 head) (1,000 pounds) (pounds)
AL (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
AK (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
AZ (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
AR (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
CA (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
CO (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
DE-MD (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
FL 0.1 0.1 54 30 400 371
GA 0.1 (D) 40 (D) 485 (D)
HI (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
ID (D) (Y) (D) (X) (D) (X)
IL 0.2 0.2 76 65 400 406
IN (D) 0.3 (D) 133 (D) 403
IA (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
KS (Y) (Y) (X) (X) (X) (X)
KY (Y) (Y) (X) (X) (X) (X)
LA (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
MI (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
MN (Y) (D) (X) (D) (X) (D)
MS (Y) (Y) (X) (X) (X) (X)
MO (Y) (Y) (X) (X) (X) (X)
MT (Y) (Y) (X) (X) (X) (X)
NE (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
NV (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
New Engl 1/ 0.1 0.1 25 20 223 257
NJ 1.2 1.1 451 424 377 390
NM (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
NY (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
NC 0.1 (Y) 46 (X) 349 (X)
ND (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
OH (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
OK (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
OR (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
PA 4.3 (D) 1,777 (D) 417 (D)
SC (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
SD (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
TN (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
TX 0.1 0.1 36 43 479 477
UT (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
VA (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
WA (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
WV (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
WI (Y) (Y) (X) (X) (X) (X)
WY (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
US 11.2 8.2 3,501 2,802 314 342
================================================================================
(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 Slaughter: Released March 19, 2026, by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Commercial Hog Slaughter - States and United States: February 2025 and 2026
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
================================================================================
Slaughtered Total live weight Average live weight
State
2025 2026 2025 2026 2025 2026
================================================================================
(1,000 head) (1,000 pounds) (pounds)
AL 1.4 1.7 586 728 407 438
AK (Y) (Y) (X) (X) (X) (X)
AZ 0.1 0.1 25 28 303 327
AR 0.3 0.5 91 133 260 281
CA 72.8 80.7 17,408 18,722 240 232
CO 3.0 2.3 436 380 147 167
DE-MD 1.6 1.5 464 427 296 293
FL 4.1 3.9 540 463 132 120
GA 5.0 4.4 1,329 1,216 264 279
HI 0.1 0.2 43 46 293 269
ID 11.1 12.4 2,882 3,246 259 261
IL 941.6 963.7 271,292 276,527 288 287
IN 717.9 701.5 205,983 202,411 287 289
IA 3,082.6 3,125.9 897,935 914,132 291 292
KS (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
KY (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
LA 0.2 0.2 49 58 218 241
MI 400.5 391.2 118,416 114,169 296 292
MN 922.0 924.7 257,728 263,076 280 285
MS 3.3 3.7 614 668 186 182
MO 721.5 739.1 210,514 217,557 292 294
MT 0.8 0.8 223 232 294 294
NE 639.8 644.5 186,306 188,076 291 292
NV (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
New Engl 1/ 1.9 1.7 499 473 267 278
NJ 7.4 10.5 704 1,096 95 104
NM 0.2 0.2 50 48 269 265
NY 1.5 1.5 360 359 248 243
NC (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
ND 0.2 0.3 53 74 269 290
OH 85.5 84.8 25,264 25,482 296 301
OK 421.3 414.7 121,748 125,090 289 302
OR 5.1 5.1 1,320 1,337 260 261
PA 268.3 (D) 75,755 (D) 282 (D)
SC 1.5 1.4 396 369 256 255
SD (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
TN 65.4 73.8 29,418 33,786 451 458
TX 22.9 21.5 4,490 4,224 196 197
UT 1.5 2.3 365 359 246 155
VA 0.9 0.8 259 256 301 303
WA (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
WV 0.5 0.4 166 106 307 267
WI 65.2 65.1 26,808 28,141 412 433
WY 0.2 0.2 44 51 266 262
US 10,164.0 10,088.3 2,952,686 2,946,221 291 292
================================================================================
(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 Slaughter: Released March 19, 2026, by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Commercial Sheep and Lamb Slaughter - States and United States: February 2025
and 2026
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
================================================================================
Slaughtered Total live weight Average live weight
State
2025 2026 2025 2026 2025 2026
================================================================================
(1,000 head) (1,000 pounds) (pounds)
AL (Y) 0.1 (X) 6 (X) 95
AK (Y) (Y) (X) (X) (X) (X)
AZ 0.8 (D) 87 (D) 111 (D)
AR 0.1 0.1 15 13 100 93
CA 18.5 18.4 2,749 2,748 149 150
CO 32.2 38.0 5,527 6,341 172 167
DE-MD 1.4 1.3 137 126 95 93
FL 3.3 2.6 161 135 49 52
GA 2.9 3.1 165 197 58 63
HI 0.1 0.2 16 25 137 132
ID 0.1 0.2 19 26 158 150
IL 5.5 4.8 474 391 86 81
IN 5.6 5.2 581 530 105 101
IA 0.1 0.1 13 14 125 112
KS 0.2 0.2 18 15 94 83
KY 0.8 0.7 84 72 106 109
LA 0.9 0.9 55 53 62 56
MI (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
MN 0.6 0.7 44 56 80 81
MS 0.2 0.2 17 12 72 82
MO 1.6 1.6 133 117 84 76
MT 0.3 0.3 35 34 119 116
NE (Y) 0.1 (X) 10 (X) 115
NV (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
New Engl 1/ 4.4 3.3 439 321 100 98
NJ 13.0 15.5 1,067 1,394 82 90
NM 0.4 0.6 55 94 142 150
NY 5.6 6.1 592 621 106 101
NC 5.1 6.2 315 388 62 63
ND 0.1 0.1 7 8 122 112
OH 5.1 3.7 807 567 159 153
OK (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
OR 4.1 4.3 665 683 163 160
PA 10.0 10.5 1,060 1,077 106 102
SC (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
SD 0.1 0.1 18 16 122 116
TN (D) 1.4 (D) 121 (D) 85
TX 23.2 20.3 2,415 1,632 104 80
UT 1.1 1.2 152 156 138 134
VA 1.0 0.3 75 27 78 81
WA 1.0 1.0 132 133 133 134
WV (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) (D)
WI 0.7 0.9 78 74 115 81
WY 0.1 0.1 15 13 153 124
US 169.1 176.4 20,727 21,307 123 121
================================================================================
(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 Slaughter: Released March 19, 2026, by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Livestock Slaughtered Under Federal Inspection by Class - United States
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
================================================================================
Jan to Feb Jan to Feb
Class Feb Jan Feb Feb Jan Feb
2025 2026 2025 2026 2025 2026 2025 2026
================================================================================
(1,000 head) (% of total)
Cattle
Steers 1,119.9 1,137.9 1,034.1 2,450.6 2,172.0 49.1 48.8 48.6 49.5 48.7
Heifers 728.2 741.2 675.0 1,567.7 1,416.2 31.9 31.8 31.7 31.7 31.7
All cows 403.8 424.5 392.1 870.9 816.6 17.7 18.2 18.4 17.6 18.3
Dairy cows 217.0 246.8 237.3 464.8 484.1 9.5 10.6 11.1 9.4 10.8
Other cows 186.7 177.7 154.8 406.1 332.5 8.2 7.6 7.3 8.2 7.5
Bulls 28.3 30.3 27.4 59.3 57.8 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.2 1.3
Total 2,280.2 2,333.9 2,128.7 4,948.5 4,462.6100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0
Calves and
vealers 10.6 7.9 7.7 23.6 15.6100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0
Hogs
Barrows and
gilts 9,857.4 10,841.3 9,802.620,981.420,643.9 97.4 97.6 97.5 97.4 97.6
Sows 241.8 244.8 228.5 512.2 473.2 2.4 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.2
Boars 20.5 21.2 18.1 44.8 39.4 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.2
Total 10,119.8 11,107.310,049.221,538.421,156.5100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0
Sheep
Mature
sheep 8.9 10.5 11.4 18.2 21.9 6.1 6.9 7.2 6.1 7.1
Lambs and
yearlings 138.5 141.0 146.3 280.8 287.2 93.9 93.1 92.8 93.9 92.9
Total 147.4 151.5 157.7 299.0 309.1100.0100.0100.0100.0100.0
================================================================================
Livestock Slaughter: Released March 19, 2026, by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Federally Inspected Slaughter Average Dressed Weight by Class - United States
[Data may not add to totals due to rounding]
================================================================================
Jan to Feb
Class Feb Jan Feb
2025 2026 2025 2026
================================================================================
(pounds)
Cattle 874 896 896 876 896
Steers 1/ 948 985 982 952 984
Heifers 1/ 869 893 892 869 892
All cows 1/ 674 658 669 670 663
Bulls 1/ 900 927 928 897 927
Calves and vealers 183 194 199 183 196
Hogs 217 220 218 218 219
Barrows and gilts 2/ 215 218 216 216 217
Sows 2/ 293 300 297 294 298
Boars 2/ 220 225 227 221 226
Sheep 64 61 62 64 62
Mature sheep 3/ 67 64 63 66 63
Lambs and yearlings 3/ 64 61 62 64 62
================================================================================
1/ Included in cattle average dressed weight.
2/ Included in hog average dressed weight.
3/ Included in sheep average dressed weight.
Livestock Slaughter: Released March 19, 2026, by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Federally Inspected Slaughter - Regions and United States: February 2026
[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 2.0 0.7 0.5 0.5 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.1
2 7.2 2.1 (D) 2.8 (D) (D) (D) 1.7
3 80.6 31.8 (D) 41.0 33.4 7.6 (D) (D)
4 53.2 5.4 2.1 41.0 15.5 25.5 4.6 0.2
5 221.7 103.5 27.6 (D) 59.5 (D) (D) (D)
6 340.6 148.8 121.8 62.5 32.2 30.3 7.5 (D)
7 935.5 509.2 370.3 (D) (D) 39.5 (D) (Y)
8 237.3 126.8 98.5 (D) (D) (D) (D) (Y)
9 124.5 51.2 15.2 57.2 49.4 7.7 0.9 (D)
10 126.2 54.5 33.1 37.5 30.1 7.4 1.1 (Y)
US 2,128.7 1,034.1 675.0 392.1 237.3 154.8 27.4 7.7
================================================================================
Hogs Sheep
Total Barrows Total Mature Lambs and
and gilts Sows Boars sheep yearlings
================================================================================
(1,000 head)
1 1.5 1.5 (Y) (Y) 3.2 0.2 3.0
2 12.0 11.9 (Y) (Y) 21.1 3.2 17.9
3 (D) (D) 0.2 (D) 13.2 0.6 12.6
4 (D) (D) 75.9 (D) 12.5 0.8 11.7
5 3,114.9 3,024.7 84.8 5.4 28.4 1.5 26.9
6 432.7 432.6 0.1 0.1 15.8 1.9 13.9
7 4,523.4 4,445.9 67.5 10.0 1.7 0.1 1.6
8 (D) (D) (Y) (D) 39.0 (D) (D)
9 77.9 77.9 (Y) (Y) 18.1 (D) (D)
10 18.8 18.7 (Y) (Y) 4.6 0.1 4.5
US 10,049.2 9,802.6 228.5 18.1 157.7 11.4 146.3
================================================================================
(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.
Livestock Slaughter: Released March 19, 2026, by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Federally Inspected Slaughter - Regions and United States: January to February
2026
[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 4.3 1.7 1.0 1.1 0.8 0.3 0.5 0.1
2 14.4 4.4 (D) 5.5 (D) (D) (D) 3.5
3 163.5 63.8 (D) 83.7 67.3 16.5 (D) (D)
4 107.2 10.9 4.1 82.7 29.4 53.4 9.4 0.4
5 459.2 218.7 57.9 (D) 121.0 (D) (D) (D)
6 728.1 305.1 264.7 141.8 65.9 75.8 16.5 (D)
7 1,957.5 1,077.4 766.1 (D) (D) 80.9 (D) 0.1
8 502.2 274.4 203.8 (D) (D) (D) (D) (Y)
9 259.0 102.7 34.4 120.1 104.2 15.9 1.7 (D)
10 267.4 112.9 72.4 79.7 62.6 17.1 2.3 0.1
US 4,462.6 2,172.0 1,416.2 816.6 484.1 332.5 57.8 15.6
================================================================================
Hogs Sheep
Total Barrows Total Mature Lambs and
and gilts Sows Boars sheep yearlings
================================================================================
(1,000 head)
1 3.2 3.2 (Y) (Y) 6.3 0.4 5.9
2 21.2 21.0 0.1 (Y) 42.0 5.8 36.2
3 (D) (D) 0.3 (D) 25.8 1.7 24.1
4 (D) (D) 158.2 (D) 24.8 1.7 23.1
5 6,554.4 6,369.9 173.4 11.1 55.6 2.9 52.7
6 864.6 864.3 0.1 0.2 30.3 3.1 27.2
7 9,551.4 9,388.7 140.9 21.8 3.3 0.2 3.1
8 (D) (D) 0.1 (D) 75.8 (D) (D)
9 153.3 153.2 0.1 (Y) 36.0 (D) (D)
10 39.3 39.3 (Y) (Y) 9.2 0.2 9.0
US 21,156.5 20,643.9 473.2 39.4 309.1 21.9 287.2
================================================================================
(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.
Livestock Slaughter: Released March 19, 2026, by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Federally Inspected Slaughter Percent of Total Commercial Slaughter - United
States
================================================================================
Jan to Feb
Species Feb Jan Feb
2025 2026 2025 2026
================================================================================
(%)
Cattle 98.1 98.1 98.1 98.2 98.1
Calves 94.6 93.1 93.0 95.2 93.0
Hogs 99.6 99.6 99.6 99.6 99.6
Sheep 87.2 87.7 89.4 87.3 88.5
================================================================================
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.
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 1,100 livestock slaughter plants in the United States
operating under Federal Inspection and about 1,825 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 14). 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.
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@usda.gov.
Travis Averill, Chief, Livestock Branch (202) 692-0069 Sherry Bertramsen -
Livestock Slaughter (202) 690-8632 Tiffany Byrne - Dairy Products (651) 440-7789
Ryan Cowen - Cattle, Cattle on Feed (202) 720-3040 Kim DaPra - Milk Production
(202) 720-3278 Fatema Haque - Poultry Slaughter, Turkey Hatchery, Turkeys Raised
(202) 720-3244 Derron Martin - Catfish, Census of Aquaculture, Egg Products,
Trout (202) 690-3237 Ralph Mondesir - Hogs and Pigs (202) 720-3106 Suzanne
Richards - Cost of Pollination, Honey, Honey Bee Colonies, Sheep and Goats (202)
720-4448 Shulonda Shaw - Capacity of Refrigerated Warehouses, Cold Storage (202)
720-3240 Autumn Stone - Layers, Eggs (202) 690-3676 Takiyah Walker - Broiler
Hatchery, Chicken Hatchery (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: www.nass.usda.gov.
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For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural
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nass@usda.gov.
If you have specific questions you would like an expert to respond to, please
visit our "Ask A Specialist" website at
www.nass.usda.gov/Contact_Us/Ask_a_Specialist.
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