As has been anticipated for several months, beef production is decreasing in 2023. In the last four weeks, beef production has averaged 6.4 percent lower compared to the same period last year. Lower beef production is the result of decreases in both cattle slaughter and carcass weights.
Steer slaughter is down 5.3 percent year over year in the last month and steer carcass weights have averaged 903 pounds, down 16 pounds from one year ago. Heifer slaughter has finally begun to decrease and is down 1.6 percent in the past month, with heifer carcass weights at 830 pounds, down 20…