SJ_LS712
St Joseph, MO          Fri Jan 16, 2026          USDA Market News
Estimated Weekly Meat Production Under Federal Inspection

     Total red meat production under Federal inspection for the week
ending Saturday, January 17, 2026 was estimated at 1080.7 million lbs.
according to the U.S.Department of Agriculture's Marketing Service.
This was 0.2 percent lower than a week ago and 1.8 percent lower
than a year ago.  Cumulative meat production for the year to date was
8.9 percent lower compared to the previous year.

                        Meat Production (millions of pounds)
                             (excludes condemned)
Week Ending       Beef     Calf/Veal     Pork (2) Lamb/Mutton  Totals (3)
  17-Jan-26       503.4          1.0        574.0         2.3    1080.7
  10-Jan-26       493.3          0.9        586.0         2.2    1082.4
   Change:          2.1%        11.1%        -2.1%        4.5%     -0.2%
  18-Jan-25       524.6          0.6        572.6         2.3    1100.1
   Change:         -4.0%        66.7%         0.2%        0.0%     -1.8%
  2026 YTD       1129.1          1.8       1350.9         5.1    2486.9
  2025 YTD       1293.0          1.4       1428.8         5.3    2728.5
   
(1)Previous week estimates may be revised. Year ago data are actuals.
(2) Excludes lard.      (3) Totals may not add due to rounding.
2026 totals are subject to revision
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Livestock Slaughter (head)
Week Ending   Cattle    Calves/Vealer      Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  17-Jan-26     562,000        5,000    2,623,000      40,000
  10-Jan-26     553,000        5,000    2,683,000      38,000
   Change:          1.6%         0.0%        -2.2%        5.3%
  18-Jan-25     601,000        3,000    2,619,000      36,000
   Change:         -6.5%        66.7%         0.2%       11.1%
  2026 YTD    1,255,000       10,000    6,167,000      85,000
  2025 YTD    1,475,000        7,000    6,536,000      84,000
  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Average Weights (lbs)
Week Ending Live:          Cattle    Calves/Vealers    Hogs   Sheep/Lambs
  17-Jan-26   Estimate          1468          332         293       114
  10-Jan-26   Estimate          1465          334         293       115
  18-Jan-25     Actual          1444          310         293       125
            Dressed:
  17-Jan-26   Estimate           897          196         219        58
  10-Jan-26   Estimate           894          196         218        58
  18-Jan-25     Actual           874          183         219        64
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Percentage of Total Cattle Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending    Steers      Heifers        Cows           Bulls
  03-Jan-26       50.0%        32.2%        16.9%        0.9%
  04-Jan-25       49.3%        32.7%        17.1%        0.8%

           Percentage of Total Hogs Slaughtered by Class
Week Ending Barrows & Gilts                 Sows                 Boars
  03-Jan-26       97.8%                      2.0%                  0.2%
  04-Jan-25       97.8%                      2.0%                  0.2%

*2025 slaughter totals adjusted to reflect NASS revisions
Source:  USDA Livestock, Poultry, and Grain Market News Division, St Joseph, MO
         816-676-7000   e-mail:  stjoe.lpgmn@ams.usda.gov
         www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/SJ_LS710.txt
         www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/livestock-poultry-grain

1300C