U.S. beef production and sheep inventories dropped in August, while hog numbers showed a slight quarterly rebound. The latest USDA reports highlight tightening livestock supplies and a tight labor market impacting local harvest rates.
Beef
Packers harvested 2.24 million beef cattle in August. This marks a 4% drop from last year, according to the USDA Monthly Livestock Slaughter report. However, cattle are getting heavier. The average weight hit 1,141 pounds, up 28 pounds from last year. Overall beef production fell 2% to 1.98 billion pounds. Year-to-date, harvest trails 2025 by 7.7%, and production sits 5.3% lower.
Last week, the harvest fell short of expectations. Packers processed 484,000 head—45,000 fewer than the prior week and 75,000 below last year. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in southwest Kansas triggered staffing shortages. This slowed production at local packing plants, and delays spilled into this week. Some packers plan Saturday shifts to catch up on commitments.
This production drop drove wholesale beef prices higher. The Choice cutout value jumped $3.24 last week to average $379.50, reaching $382.79 by Wednesday. Meanwhile, August beef cold storage rose 2% from July and 5% above last year.
Pork
The market welcomed last week’s Quarterly Hogs and Pigs report. On September 1, the total hog and pig inventory stood at 74.3 million head. This reflects a 1.6% bump from last quarter, though it remains 1.51% below last year. Fewer market hogs drove this annual decline. Market hog inventories sit 1.75% higher than last quarter but trail last year by 1.55%. The breeding herd also shrank, dropping 0.08% from last quarter and 1.03% from last year. Both figures missed pre-report estimates.
All market hog weight classes fell about 1.5% compared to last year. With fewer hogs under 180 pounds, upcoming pork production (October 2026 through February 2027) will fall short of earlier projections. Meanwhile, the market struggles with lower values. The carcass base price dropped $1.26 last week, and the pork cutout value slipped 32 cents to $87.31.
Last week, packers harvested an estimated 2.552 million hogs. This beat the previous week by 68,000 and last year by 19,000. August pork production hit 2.10 billion pounds, down 1% from last year on a 2% lower harvest. Year-to-date harvest is down 1% from 2025. Market hogs averaged 284 pounds, four pounds heavier than last year. Feeder pig prices keep falling. Forty-pound pigs averaged $50.59 per head last week, and early weaners averaged $29.21.
Sheep and Lambs
The USDA reported stronger markets for both lambs and ewes last week. The lamb cutout value dropped $2.83 from the previous Friday to settle at $681.64. Packers harvested an estimated 36,000 sheep and lambs. This matched the previous week but trailed last year by 1,000. August’s total harvest hit 174,300 head, down 1% from last year. Total lamb and mutton production fell 4% to 9.7 million pounds. Harvested sheep averaged 109 pounds, down three pounds from August 2025.
Wisconsin Cattle Prices
Fed cattle prices held mostly steady to lower this week. Top-quality beef steers and heifers traded at $210–$220/cwt. Mixed Choice and Select steers and heifers ranged from $195–$210/cwt. High-grading Holstein steers remained steady to lower at $185–$210/cwt, while lower-grading steers brought $175–$185/cwt. Silage-fed and under-finished steers traded between $95–$175/cwt.
Dairy-Beef cross steers held steady to lower at $195–$219/cwt. Cow prices slipped to $93–$121/cwt, though some reached the $130s. Lower-yielding cows brought $40–$93/cwt. Doubtful health and thin cows capped at $40/cwt.
Dairy breed bull calves sold lower, ranging from $500–$1,400/head. Dairy breed heifer calves brought $200–$800/head. Beef and Beef Cross calves also trended lower at $600–$1,600/head. Light and lower-quality calves sold for up to $60. Fed lambs over 100 pounds commanded $220–$250/cwt, while light lambs sold from $250–$285/cwt.
The Wisconsin weekly livestock report is prepared and written by Jeff Swenson, DATCP Livestock and Meat Specialist. The Market Update draws information from several sources, including trade publications, radio broadcasts, agricultural news services, individuals involved in the industry as well as USDA NASS and AMS reports.
