Published in News
US Red Meat Production Slips in October
Pork shows a small rise, but beef and veal fall sharply as total red meat output drops.
A Changing Month for US Meat Production
US red meat production went down in October 2025. According to new data from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the country produced 4.89 billion pounds of red meat. This is about 3% less than the 5.02 billion pounds produced in October 2024.
Even though the overall numbers dropped, not all meat types followed the same trend. Pork rose slightly, while beef and veal declined.
Pork: Small Growth Despite Fewer Hogs
October is known as National Pork Month, and pork production showed a small increase.
Key pork numbers
Pork produced: 2.55 billion pounds (+0.35% from last year)
Hogs slaughtered: 11.8 million head (-1%)
Average hog weight: Up 3 pounds to 290 pounds
This means farmers processed fewer hogs, but each hog was heavier, helping keep production steady.
State-by-state highlights
Iowa: Up 0.42% to 3.66 million hogs
Illinois: Down 4.22% to 1.1 million
Minnesota: Down 1.3% to 1.074 million
Federal inspection totals
Hog slaughter under federal inspection fell slightly to 11.772 million head.
Breakdown:
Barrows & gilts: 11.489 million
Sows: 261,000
Boars: 21,000
Beef: A Sharp Decline
Beef production took a bigger hit. In October, the US produced 2.33 billion pounds of beef, which is 6% less than last year.
What caused the drop?
Cattle slaughter: 2.63 million head (-8%)
Average live weight: Up 30 pounds to 1,448 pounds
Even though cattle were heavier, the large drop in slaughter numbers pulled production down.
Veal: Steepest Drop of All
Veal production had the biggest decline among red meats.
Veal produced: 2.0 million pounds (-39%)
Calf slaughter: 9,600 head (-44%)
Average live weight: Up 29 pounds to 358 pounds
The big fall in calf slaughter led to much lower volumes overall.
Year-to-Date: January–October 2025
Looking at the first ten months of the year, the pattern continues.
Total red meat production
44.6 billion pounds (-3% from 2024)
Breakdown by type
Beef: -4%
Veal: -38%
Pork: -1%
Lamb & mutton: +1%
What the Numbers Tell Us
The US red meat industry is seeing mixed results. Pork is holding steady with small gains, thanks to heavier hogs. However, beef and especially veal are experiencing noticeable declines. These trends may affect pricing, supply, and farm operations as the year moves forward.
Source: https://www.foodbusinessmea.com/us-red-meat-production-declines-in-october-2025/