The USDA says December 2021 red meat production was down modestly from December 2020. The total of 4.783 billion pounds was down 1% on the year.
Beef production was record large for the month at 2.362 billion pounds, up 1% from the previous year at 2.824 million head, with a 1% rise in the slaughter and 3-pound gain for the average live weight to 1,392 pounds.
December’s dairy cow slaughter was 267,800 head, 22,500 more than in November, but 5,700 less than December 2020.
