Total federally inspected beef production was 12.1 billion pounds in the first 24 weeks of 2019, up just 0.7% from the same period last year. That is an average production of 502.4 million pounds per week – an amazing number if you think about it. Given that there is little storage of beef beyond pipeline supplies, it means that roughly 500 million pounds of a wide range of beef products are moving through a vast array of retail grocery, restaurant, food service and export markets every week. It is an enormous and complex set of markets.

USDA-AMS estimates U.S. beef production for the year to date to be down 1 percent year over year. Total cattle slaughter is up 0.7 percent so far this year over last year.

With USDA data flowing again, the final numbers for 2018 will begin to emerge soon as well as current numbers for 2019. The annual Cattle report will be released after a one-month delay in late February.

Most Progressive Cattleman readers think that carcass weight is the most overrated genetic trait.