Livestock Slaughter ISSN: 04-0544 Released March 4, 2019, by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Agricultural Statistics Board, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Red Meat and Pork Production at Record High for contained 23 weekdays (including 2 holidays) and 4 Saturdays. 2019 contained 23 weekdays (including 2 holidays) and 4 Saturdays. Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.70 billion pounds in, up 2 percent from the 4.59 billion pounds produced in. Beef production, at 2.31 billion pounds, was 1 percent above the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.83 million head, up 3 percent from. The average live weight was down 13 pounds from the previous year, at 1,363 pounds. Veal production totaled 6.6 million pounds, 1 percent below a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 53,800 head, 10 percent above. The average live weight was down 22 pounds from last year, at 213 pounds. Pork production totaled 2.37 billion pounds, 4 percent above the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 1 million head, 3 percent above. The average live weight was up 2 pounds from the previous year, at 288 pounds. Lamb and mutton production, at 12.5 million pounds, was slightly below. Sheep slaughter totaled 186,800 head, 6 percent above last year. The average live weight was 134 pounds, down 8 pounds from a year ago.
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Contents Commercial Red Meat Production United States... 4 Federally Inspected Red Meat Production United States... 4 Livestock Slaughter and Average Live Weight United States... 5 Commercial Red Meat Production States and United States... 6 Commercial Cattle Slaughter States and United States: and 2019... 7 Commercial Calf Slaughter States and United States: and 2019... 8 Commercial Hog Slaughter States and United States: and 2019... 9 Commercial Sheep and Lamb Slaughter States and United States: and 2019... 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: 2019... 12 Federally Inspected Slaughter Percent of Total Commercial Slaughter United States... 12 Statistical Methodology... 13 Terms and Definitions Used for Livestock Slaughter Estimates... 14 Information Contacts... 15 Livestock Slaughter (March 2019) 3
Commercial Red Meat Production United States [Totals, accumulated totals, and percentages based on unrounded data] Type 2019 2019 as % of 2019 2019 as % of Beef... Veal... Pork... Lamb and mutton... 2,278.0 6.6 2,289.9 12.5 2,115.8 6.5 2,232.1 13.2 2,308.8 6.6 2,373.4 12.5 (percent) 104 100 (percent) 109 2,278.0 6.6 2,289.9 12.5 2,308.8 6.6 2,373.4 12.5 (percent) 104 100 Total red meat... 4,587.1 4,367.6 4,701.2 108 4,587.1 4,701.2 Federally Inspected Red Meat Production United States [Totals, accumulated totals, and percentages based on unrounded data] Type Beef... Veal... Pork... Lamb and mutton... 2,248.4 6.5 2,278.7 11.7 2,091.4 6.3 2,221.8 11.9 2019 2,278.7 6.4 2,362.4 11.4 2019 as % of (percent) 104 (percent) 109 96 2019 2,248.4 6.5 2,278.7 11.7 2,278.7 6.4 2,362.4 11.4 2019 as % of (percent) 104 Total red meat... 4,545.3 4,331.3 4,658.9 108 4,545.3 4,658.9 4 Livestock Slaughter (March 2019)
Livestock Slaughter and Average Live Weight United States [Totals, accumulated totals, and percentages based on unrounded data] Species Cattle Number of head Federally inspected... 1,000 Other... 1,000 Commercial... 1,000 Live weight per head Federally inspected.. pounds Other... pounds Commercial... pounds 2,713.8 43.7 2,757.5 1,380 1,182 1,376 2,544.0 36.2 2,58 1,370 1,184 1,368 2019 2,785.9 44.3 2,83 1,366 1,189 1,363 2019 as % of (percent) 2019 2,713.8 43.7 2,757.5 1,380 1,182 1,376 2,785.9 44.3 2,83 1,366 1,189 1,363 2019 as % of (percent) Calves Number of head Federally inspected... 1,000 Other... 1,000 Commercial... 1,000 Live weight per head Federally inspected.. pounds Other... pounds Commercial... pounds 48.4 49.0 232 394 235 53.0 53.6 209 355 210 53.0 53.8 210 391 213 110 115 110 91 91 48.4 49.0 232 394 235 53.0 53.8 210 391 213 110 115 110 91 91 Hogs Number of head Federally inspected... 1,000 Other... 1,000 Commercial... 1,000 Live weight per head Federally inspected.. pounds Other... pounds Commercial... pounds 10,652.8 61.3 10,714.1 253 10,402.5 57.9 10,46 244 10,3.3 58.0 11,041.4 288 258 288 10,652.8 61.3 10,714.1 253 10,3.3 58.0 11,041.4 288 258 288 Sheep and lambs Number of head Federally inspected... 1,000 Other... 1,000 Commercial... 1,000 Live weight per head Federally inspected.. pounds Other... pounds Commercial... pounds 161.9 14.3 176.3 144 111 142 176.2 25.6 201.8 134 105 131 165.7 21.2 186.8 138 134 148 93 161.9 14.3 176.3 144 111 142 165.7 21.2 186.8 138 134 148 93 Goats Number of head Federally inspected... 1,000 Other... 1,000 Commercial... 1,000 Live weight per head Federally inspected.. pounds Other... pounds Commercial... pounds 39.4 7.2 46.5 64 82 67 5 12.8 62.9 65 85 69 42.9 9.5 52.5 65 82 68 109 133 113 39.4 7.2 46.5 64 82 67 42.9 9.5 52.5 65 82 68 109 133 113 Bison Number of head Federally inspected... 1,000 Other... 1,000 Commercial... 1,000 3.8 4.3 3.7 4.3 4.8 5.4 126 120 126 3.8 4.3 4.8 5.4 126 120 126 Livestock Slaughter (March 2019) 5
Commercial Red Meat Production States and United States [Includes total beef, veal, pork, lamb, and mutton. Totals and percentages based on unrounded data.] State Alabama... Alaska... Arizona... Arkansas... California... Colorado... Delaware-Maryland... Florida... Georgia... Hawaii... 2019 2019 as % of (percent) 1.2 43.0 13 1.3 3.3 2.9 12.7 1.1 33.9 125.0 166.3 2.9 2.2 13.3 1.1 37.9 126.4 194.6 3.3 2.7 14.9 94 85 88 97 93 117 120 Idaho... Illinois... Indiana... Iowa... Kansas... Kentucky... Louisiana... Michigan... Minnesota... Mississippi... 23.3 294.6 163.6 653.6 493.0 49.9 8 249.1 27.8 288.2 145.3 661.4 464.6 46.6 86.5 234.3 31.1 297.2 155.3 702.0 4.5 5 92.2 241.5 133 107 111 114 97 116 Missouri... Montana... Nebraska... Nevada... New England 1... New Jersey... New Mexico... New York... North Carolina... North Dakota... 176.4 6.1 2.1 3.0 3.3 222.4 164.5 1.1 648.1 2.1 3.6 3.4 22 174.2 714.9 2.1 3.4 3.3 242.3 113 115 84 109 Ohio... Oklahoma... Oregon... Pennsylvania... South Carolina... South Dakota... Tennessee... Texas... Utah... Virginia... 2 108.1 5.5 127.2 9.8 13 21.9 380.0 48.7 44.3 19.4.5 3.6 122.9 9.1 123.3 22.8 359.1 43.8 46.8 21.4.1 4.2 135.4 8.3 137.0 21.7 39 52.4 48.1 76 85 105 108 109 Washington... West Virginia... Wisconsin... Wyoming... 77.0 107.2 72.6 96.0 79.5 104.6 93 92 United States... 4,587.1 4,367.6 Less than level of precision shown. 1 New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. 4,701.2 6 Livestock Slaughter (March 2019)
Commercial Cattle Slaughter States and United States: and 2019 [Data may not add to totals due to rounding] State Alabama... Alaska... Arizona... Arkansas... California... Colorado... Delaware-Maryland... Florida... Georgia... Hawaii... Slaughtered Total live weight Average live weight 2019 2019 2019 (1,000 head) (1,000 head) (1,000 (1,000 ( ( 52.0 122.7 217.1 3.4 44.6 121.9 21 3.4 1.2 406 64 71,665 505 164,403 307,779 4,600 938 409 81 61,518 633 158,154 2,545 4,665 1,241 1,038 1,050 1,379 969 1,350 1,420 1,348 1,155 1,066 1,036 1,380 2 1,307 1,427 1,368 1,081 Idaho... Illinois... Indiana... Iowa... Kansas... Kentucky... Louisiana... Michigan... Minnesota... Mississippi... 31.1 3.2 552.4 1.7 46.6 43.0 3.2 573.1 3.3 39,563 3,486 760,0 1,793 372 66,432 1 55,256 3,641 772,565 3,351 402 274 1,287 1, 1,377 1,055 797 1,435 820 1,300 1,151 1,348 1,026 761 816 Missouri... Montana... Nebraska... Nevada... New England 1... New Jersey... New Mexico... New York... North Carolina... North Dakota... 4.9 617.3 2.0 3.1 3.3 5.9 5.1 644.1 2.2 3.4 3.5 6.2 5,732 1,174 894,869 131 2,386 3,368 508 3,929 7,245 1,220 5,973 1,336 923,046 143 2,538 3,707 356 4,194 7,613 1,142 1,171 1,218 1,451 1,021 1,172 1,097 1,160 1,222 1,237 1,305 1,169 1,280 1,435 1,117 1,152 1, 4 1,215 1,236 1,265 Ohio... Oklahoma... Oregon... Pennsylvania... South Carolina... South Dakota... Tennessee... Texas... Utah... Virginia... 5.0 2.7 3.7 93.4 14.8 34.1 6.1 473.0 57.3 1.6 5.5 3.0 1.3 96.6 13.1 4 1.1 490.0 6 1.6 5,825 2,820 4,511 114,743 18,616 49,915 5,827 622,034 78,527 1,709 7,127 3,158 1,491 118,602 15,737 58,665 1,166 639,591 83,975 1,711 1,167 1,035 1,246 1,232 1,263 1,469 976 1,319 1,372 1,072 1,302 1,056 1,123 1,232 1,207 1,461 1,051 1,309 1,387 1,057 Washington... West Virginia... Wisconsin... Wyoming... 91.7 115.6 94.7 115.3 127,373 1,004 161,515 683 131,266 937 160,170 627 1,393 1,027 1,406 1,135 1,390 1 1,3 1,077 United States... 2,757.5 2,83 3,786,653 3,849,293 Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. 1 New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. 1,376 1,363 Livestock Slaughter (March 2019) 7
Commercial Calf Slaughter States and United States: and 2019 [Data may not add to totals due to rounding] State Alabama... Alaska... Arizona... Arkansas... California... Colorado... Delaware-Maryland... Florida... Georgia... Hawaii... Slaughtered Total live weight Average live weight 2019 2019 2019 (1,000 head) (1,000 head) (1,000 (1,000 ( ( 6.6 8.5 666 26 74 858 29 54 437 480 426 442 Idaho... Illinois... Indiana... Iowa... Kansas... Kentucky... Louisiana... Michigan... Minnesota... Mississippi... 2.7 3.7 231 29 30 331 32 113 33 84 406 300 89 389 279 308 Missouri... Montana... Nebraska... Nevada... New England 1... New Jersey... New Mexico... New York... North Carolina... North Dakota... 1.8 7.5 2.1 9.1 48 661 852 25 51 779 891 192 371 115 386 191 376 Ohio... Oklahoma... Oregon... Pennsylvania... South Carolina... South Dakota... Tennessee... Texas... Utah... Virginia... 14.3 8.8 14.9 9.2 2,187 3,718 59 1,965 3,882 121 154 422 435 132 424 418 Washington... West Virginia... Wisconsin... Wyoming... 5.1 4.5 2,453 2, 483 465 United States... 49.0 53.8 11,427 Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. Not applicable. Less than level of precision shown. 1 New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. 11,393 235 213 8 Livestock Slaughter (March 2019)
Commercial Hog Slaughter States and United States: and 2019 [Data may not add to totals due to rounding] State Alabama... Alaska... Arizona... Arkansas... California... Colorado... Delaware-Maryland... Florida... Georgia... Hawaii... Slaughtered Total live weight Average live weight 2019 2019 2019 (1,000 head) (1,000 head) (1,000 (1,000 ( ( 3.6 210.0 1.6 1.9 3.9 5.0 3.3 1.6 1.5 1.8 4.1 6.1 1,479 50 182 53,522 408 516 614 1,207 97 1,380 22 34 151 50,009 373 492 614 1,467 59 407 243 262 255 248 272 157 241 238 414 284 262 274 256 246 270 149 241 260 Idaho... Illinois... Indiana... Iowa... Kansas... Kentucky... Louisiana... Michigan... Minnesota... Mississippi... 16.0 1,062.0 761.6 2,935.6 188.8 1,043.1 3.0 14.8 1,063.1 720.0 3,168.6 244.1 1,014.1 3.4 4,256 305,434 213,905 838,748 153 56,071 287,090 497 4,024 307,557 203,180 907,158 172 71,627 280,750 521 267 288 281 193 297 275 166 273 289 282 226 293 277 154 Missouri... Montana... Nebraska... Nevada... New England 1... New Jersey... New Mexico... New York... North Carolina... North Dakota... 797.5 6.5 3.0 7.6 2.1 763.9 715.8 2.6 1 1.9 230,173 193 196,361 21 835 807 62 543 117 226,921 205 205,352 716 7 65 484 92 289 260 282 270 280 273 262 300 297 265 287 279 96 266 249 320 Ohio... Oklahoma... Oregon... Pennsylvania... South Carolina... South Dakota... Tennessee... Texas... Utah... Virginia... 73.7 504.2 14.5 284.0 2.7 63.0 23.3 5.5 78.1 49 15.3 304.8 2.4 7 24.6 6.5 21,088 139,522 3,845 77,402 660 28,536 5,833 973 21,874 138,020 4,169 86,233 580 31,688 5,612 1,018 287 277 266 273 249 454 251 177 281 281 273 283 246 449 228 157 Washington... West Virginia... Wisconsin... Wyoming... 67.6 62.6 232 1 29,544 83 270 177 26,967 56 266 300 438 272 261 301 432 273 United States... 10,714.1 11,041.4 3,062,142 3,175,255 Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. Not applicable. Less than level of precision shown. 1 New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. 288 Livestock Slaughter (March 2019) 9
Commercial Sheep and Lamb Slaughter States and United States: and 2019 [Data may not add to totals due to rounding] State Alabama... Alaska... Arizona... Arkansas... California... Colorado... Delaware-Maryland... Florida... Georgia... Hawaii... Slaughtered Total live weight Average live weight 2019 2019 2019 (1,000 head) (1,000 head) (1,000 (1,000 ( ( 23.4 67.9 3.8 1.6 30.0 68.3 3.0 1.2 2.1 3,481 11,560 359 58 112 18 65 4,456 11,159 285 64 163 8 149 170 94 60 72 144 133 149 163 94 53 78 78 Idaho... Illinois... Indiana... Iowa... Kansas... Kentucky... Louisiana... Michigan... Minnesota... Mississippi... 3.9 3.1 1.1 20.0 3.9 3.9 1.2 27 390 374 33 27 135 15 2,926 36 35 17 361 429 27 33 137 22 46 56 141 122 165 104 122 59 146 100 61 147 93 109 168 116 62 64 Missouri... Montana... Nebraska... Nevada... New England 1... New Jersey... New Mexico... New York... North Carolina... North Dakota... 2.8 9.5 4.5 2.4 12.0 4.3 1.1 77 45 9 8 254 751 83 478 86 73 40 242 944 96 417 78 87 141 121 141 92 79 151 83 83 127 100 78 144 69 Ohio... Oklahoma... Oregon... Pennsylvania... South Carolina... South Dakota... Tennessee... Texas... Utah... Virginia... 3.5 4.0 6.2 5.4 1.7 4.5 3.5 7.3 11.5 1.8 504 39 581 697 38 66 518 239 58 707 488 741 53 44 965 241 58 143 105 146 112 162 74 97 141 74 159 107 140 161 66 84 134 74 Washington... West Virginia... Wisconsin... Wyoming... 1.7 2.4 1.4 3.8 233 379 12 1 581 14 137 159 141 138 154 140 United States... 176.3 186.8 24,1 Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. Not applicable. Less than level of precision shown. 1 New England includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. 25,004 142 134 10 Livestock Slaughter (March 2019)
Livestock Slaughtered Under Federal Inspection by Class United States [Data may not add to totals due to rounding] Class Cattle Steers... Heifers... All cows... Dairy cows... Other cows... Bulls... (1,000 head) 1,383.2 747.5 544.3 289.8 254.5 38.8 (1,000 head) 1,253.6 753.5 4.4 261.2 237.1 38.5 2019 (1,000 head) 1,354.5 837.4 556.2 2.4 257.7 37.8 2019 2019 2019 (1,000 head) 1,383.2 747.5 544.3 289.8 254.5 38.8 (1,000 head) 1,354.5 837.4 556.2 2.4 257.7 37.8 (percent of total) 5 27.5 2 1 9.4 1.4 (percent of total) 49.3 29.6 19.6 1 9.3 1.5 (percent of total) 48.6 3 20.0 1 9.3 1.4 (percent of total) 5 27.5 2 1 9.4 1.4 (percent of total) 48.6 3 20.0 1 9.3 1.4 Total... 2,713.8 2,544.0 2,785.9 2,713.8 2,785.9 Calves and vealers... 48.4 53.0 53.0 48.4 53.0 Hogs Barrows and gilts... Sows... Boars... 10,358.4 262.7 31.6 10,135.6 238.9 28.0 10,684.4 265.3 33.6 10,358.4 262.7 31.6 10,684.4 265.3 33.6 97.2 2.5 97.4 2.3 97.3 2.4 97.2 2.5 97.3 2.4 Total... 10,652.8 10,402.5 10,3.3 10,652.8 10,3.3 Sheep Mature sheep... Lambs and yearlings... 7.4 154.5 1 166.1 8.2 157.5 7.4 154.5 8.2 157.5 4.6.4 5.7 94.3 4.9.1 4.6.4 4.9.1 Total... 161.9 176.2 165.7 161.9 165.7 Federally Inspected Slaughter Average Dressed Weight by Class United States [Data may not add to totals due to rounding] Class Cattle... Steers 1... Heifers 1... All cows 1... Bulls 1... 2019 2019 ( ( ( ( ( 830 893 836 658 893 824 894 831 633 862 820 886 824 647 875 830 893 836 658 893 820 886 824 647 875 Calves and vealers... 135 120 121 135 121 Hogs... Barrows and gilts 2... Sows 2... Boars 2... 214 212 303 190 214 212 302 187 215 213 300 182 214 212 303 190 215 213 300 182 Sheep... Mature sheep 3... Lambs and yearlings 3... 1 Included in cattle average dressed weight. 2 Included in hog average dressed weight. 3 Included in sheep average dressed weight. 73 69 73 67 63 68 69 64 69 73 69 73 69 64 69 Livestock Slaughter (March 2019) 11
Federally Inspected Slaughter Regions and United States: 2019 [Data may not add to totals due to rounding] Standard federal regions 1 1... 2... 3... 4... 5... 6... 7... 8... 9... 10... Total Steers Heifers Cattle Cows All Dairy Other Bulls Calves (1,000 head) (1,000 head) (1,000 head) (1,000 head) (1,000 head) (1,000 head) (1,000 head) (1,000 head) 1.9 6.7.4 52.2 28 488.6 1,242.9 308.4 167.2 138.5 1.7 31.4 3.7 132.5 225.3 679.8 163.5 71.9 43.9 1.5 2.0 1.3 156.4 49 104.8 15.2 35.0 3.1 62.5 41.3 11.1 65.5 39.0 78.6 56.9 2.9 49.9 14.5 72.2 40.0 7.6 9.3 7 31.7 12.6 26.8 38.6 58.0 57.9 29.7 8.5 25.2 3.5 5.9 8.9 7.0 1.1 1.4 2.7 Total 11.2 9.4 19.9 8.2 3.7 United States... 1... 2... 3... 4... 5... 6... 7... 8... 9... 10... 2,785.9 Total 1,354.5 Barrows and gilts Hogs 837.4 556.2 2.4 Sows Boars Total 257.7 Sheep Mature sheep 37.8 Lambs and yearlings (1,000 head) (1,000 head) (1,000 head) (1,000 head) (1,000 head) (1,000 head) (1,000 head) 2.3 12.1 523.6 3,157.3 511.4 4,662.2 192.2 3 2.2 12.0 522.5 3,028.4 511.3 4,578.0 192.1 3 124.6 63.3 4.3 2 2.3 15.9 11.9 7.2 21.8 3.4 1.1 69.9 28.4 3.9 1.6 1.3 1.5 1.3 53.0 2.3 14.3 1 6.4 2 2.9 68.6 27.6 3.7 United States... 10,3.3 10,684.4 265.3 Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. 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. 33.6 165.7 8.2 157.5 Federally Inspected Slaughter Percent of Total Commercial Slaughter United States Species Cattle... Calves... Hogs... Sheep... 2019 2019 (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent) (percent).4.6.4 91.9.6.8.4 87.3.4.6.5 88.7.4.6.4 91.9.4.6.5 88.7 12 Livestock Slaughter (March 2019)
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 about 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 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, these data are still included in United States and region totals. A review of the data is made annually to determine the publishable data. Livestock Slaughter (March 2019) 13
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. 14 Livestock Slaughter (March 2019)
Information Contacts Listed below are the commodity specialists in the Livestock Branch of the National Agricultural Statistics Service to contact for additional information. E-mail inquiries may be sent to nass@nass.usda.gov. Travis Averill, Chief, Livestock Branch... (202) 720-3570 Scott Hollis, Head, Livestock Section... (202) 690-2424 Sherry Bertramsen Livestock Slaughter... (202) 690-8632 Holly Brenize Sheep and Goats... (202) 720-0585 Donnie Fike Dairy Products... (202) 720-4448 Heidi Gleich Cattle, Cattle on Feed... (202) 720-3040 Mike Miller Milk Production and Milk Cows... (202) 720-3278 Seth Riggins Hogs and Pigs... (202) 720-3 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) 727-40, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, or e-mail: nass@nass.usda.gov. 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) 632-92 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 program.intake@usda.gov.
USDA NASS Data Users Meeting Tuesday, April 23, 2019 University of Chicago Gleacher Center 450 North Cityfront Plaza Drive Chicago, IL 60611 312-464-8787 USDA s National Agricultural Statistics Service will hold an open forum for users of U.S. domestic and international agriculture data. NASS is organizing the 2019 Data Users Meeting in cooperation with five other USDA agencies Agricultural Marketing Service, Economic Research Service, Farm Service Agency, Foreign Agricultural Service, and World Agricultural Outlook Board and the Census Bureau s Foreign Trade Division. Agency representatives will provide updates on recent and pending changes in statistical and information programs important to agriculture, answer questions, and welcome comments and input from data users. For registration details or additional information about the Data Users Meeting, see the meeting page on the NASS website (https://www.nass.usda.gov/education_and_outreach/meeting/index.php). Contact Vernita Murray (NASS) at 202-690-8141 or vernita.murray@nass.usda.gov or Patricia Snipe (NASS) at 202-720-2248 or patricia.snipe@nass.usda.gov for information. The Data Users Meeting precedes the Industry Outlook Conference at the same location on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. The outlook meeting brings together analysts from various commodity sectors to discuss developments and trends. For registration details or additional information about the Industry Outlook Conference, see the conference page on the LMIC website (http://lmic.info/page/meetings). Or contact Laura Lahr at 303-716-35 or laura.lahr@lmic.info.