While Americans ate a record 27.8 billion pounds of beef last year, a surprising statistic reveals a significant contraction in the very foundation of the industry: the national cattle herd has quietly fallen to its smallest size since 1951.
Key Takeaways
- US beef production reached 27.8 billion pounds in 2022, marking a 2.1% increase from 2021
- The US cattle inventory stood at 91.9 million head on January 1, 2023, the lowest since 1951
- In 2022, US commercial beef production totaled 26.4 billion pounds, down 1.4% from the previous year due to smaller cattle supplies
- Total US beef imports for consumption hit 3.4 billion pounds in 2022, up 10%
- US per capita beef consumption was 58.1 pounds in 2022, down from 59.1 in 2021
- Fresh beef retail sales volume reached 14.2 billion pounds in 2022
- US beef exports reached a record 3.24 billion pounds carcass weight equivalent in 2022
- Japan imported 599 million pounds of US beef in 2022, 18% of total US exports
- South Korea took 474 million pounds of US beef exports in 2022, up 5%
- US beef industry contributed $351 billion to GDP in 2022
- Beef sector supported 1.02 million direct jobs in the US in 2022
- Total economic impact including indirect jobs reached 5.8 million from beef in 2022
- US beef greenhouse gas emissions totaled 253 million metric tons CO2e in 2022
- Beef production water use averaged 1,850 gallons per pound in US 2022 lifecycle
- US beef land use for grazing covered 654 million acres in 2022, 40% of continental US ag land
Despite record production and exports, US beef herds are at historic lows.
Consumption
- Total US beef imports for consumption hit 3.4 billion pounds in 2022, up 10%
- US per capita beef consumption was 58.1 pounds in 2022, down from 59.1 in 2021
- Fresh beef retail sales volume reached 14.2 billion pounds in 2022
- Processed beef products consumption totaled 12.5 billion pounds per capita adjusted in 2022
- Ground beef accounted for 46% of total US fresh beef consumption in 2022
- US household beef disappearance was 57.8 pounds per capita in 2022
- Steak cuts represented 22% of US beef retail pounds sold in 2022
- Roast beef consumption in foodservice sector grew 3% to 2.1 billion pounds in 2022
- US beef demand index rose to 215.8 in 2022, highest since 2015
- Per capita lamb and veal consumption was 1.2 pounds, but beef dominated at 58 pounds in 2022
- Away-from-home beef consumption was 28% of total in 2022
- At-home beef use per capita fell to 41 pounds boneless equivalent in 2022
- Ground beef per capita consumption was 26.7 pounds in 2022
- US beef exports for consumption totaled 3.2 billion pounds in 2022, up 11%
- Total US red meat consumption per capita was 222.4 pounds in 2022, with beef at 58.1
- Poultry displaced some beef consumption, with chicken at 98.6 pounds per capita in 2022
- Pork per capita consumption was 65.7 pounds in 2022, below beef's share
- Millennials consumed 15% more beef than Boomers per capita adjusted in 2022 surveys
- Gen Z beef consumption frequency averaged 2.3 times weekly in 2022
- Hispanic consumers represented 22% of US beef volume in 2022
- Organic beef sales grew 12% to 450 million pounds in 2022 retail
- Grass-fed beef retail share reached 4.2% of total beef sales in 2022
- US beef consumption in quick-service restaurants totaled 1.8 billion pounds in 2022
- Table service beef use was 2.4 billion pounds in 2022
- School foodservice beef procurement hit 450 million pounds in 2022
Consumption Interpretation
America, ever the carnivorous contradiction, is importing more beef than ever while eating slightly less of it ourselves, choosing to grind and export our steaks as the world's hunger for our premium cuts—and our own appetite for burgers—shows no sign of letting up.
Economic Impact
- US beef industry contributed $351 billion to GDP in 2022
- Beef sector supported 1.02 million direct jobs in the US in 2022
- Total economic impact including indirect jobs reached 5.8 million from beef in 2022
- US cattle and beef farm cash receipts were $92.5 billion in 2022
- Beef processing and fabrication added $78 billion to economy in 2022
- Wholesale beef value of production hit $105 billion in 2022
- Retail beef sales generated $120 billion in 2022
- Beef exports contributed $11.2 billion to US trade balance in 2022
- Average US fed steer price was $144.50 per hundredweight in 2022
- Feeder steer prices averaged $212 per cwt for 800 lb in 2022
- US beef packer margin averaged $120 per head in 2022
- Cattle ranching farm income netted $18.2 billion in 2022
- Beef sector tax contributions totaled $52 billion federally in 2022
- 602,000 beef farms and ranches operated in US in 2022
- Average beef cow herd size was 43.5 head per operation in 2022
- Beef production costs per cwt rose to $128 in 2022, up 14%
- Feed costs accounted for 62% of beef production expenses in 2022
- Labor costs in beef packing averaged $1,200 per head processed in 2022
- US beef retail price index rose 8.4% to 285.2 in 2022
- Choice beef retail price averaged $8.45 per pound in 2022
- Ground beef average retail price was $5.32 per pound in 2022
- Beef industry invested $2.5 billion in capital expenditures in 2022
- State-level GDP contribution from beef highest in Texas at $28 billion in 2022
- Nebraska beef GDP impact was $22 billion in 2022
- Kansas beef sector added $18.5 billion to GDP in 2022
- Colorado beef economic output totaled $12.3 billion in 2022
Economic Impact Interpretation
Behind every towering burger, sizzling steak, and meaty taco lies a titanic economic engine of nearly a million direct jobs, over a hundred billion dollars in retail sales, and a frankly staggering tax contribution, proving that the nation's appetite for beef is both a cultural cornerstone and a formidable financial force.
Exports/Imports
- US beef exports reached a record 3.24 billion pounds carcass weight equivalent in 2022
- Japan imported 599 million pounds of US beef in 2022, 18% of total US exports
- South Korea took 474 million pounds of US beef exports in 2022, up 5%
- Mexico imported 289 million pounds of US beef in 2022, primarily lean trimmings
- China/Hong Kong region imported 253 million pounds of US beef in 2022
- Canada received 208 million pounds of US beef exports in 2022
- Taiwan imported 142 million pounds of US beef in 2022, growing 15%
- Philippines took 88 million pounds of US beef in 2022
- US beef export value hit $11.2 billion in 2022, a record high
- Beef export share of US production was 11.5% in 2022
- US lean beef exports to Mexico totaled 1.1 billion pounds product weight in 2022
- Ground beef exports from US reached 450 million pounds in 2022
- US beef imports from Australia were 1.2 billion pounds in 2022, 35% of total imports
- Canada supplied 912 million pounds of US beef imports in 2022
- Brazil exported 567 million pounds of beef to the US in 2022
- New Zealand US beef imports totaled 345 million pounds in 2022
- US beef import value was $5.8 billion in 2022
- Import share of US beef supply was 12.2% in 2022
- US exported beef to 84 countries in 2022, up from 78 in 2021
- EU imported 45 million pounds of US beef in 2022 under quota
- US beef trade surplus was $5.4 billion in 2022
- Chile imported 67 million pounds of US beef in 2022
- Colombia took 56 million pounds of US beef exports in 2022
- US beef exports to Middle East totaled 120 million pounds in 2022
- Peru imported 34 million pounds of US beef in 2022
- US live cattle exports numbered 85,000 head in 2022, mostly to Mexico
- Beef variety meat exports hit 850 million pounds in 2022
Exports/Imports Interpretation
The US beef industry achieved a record global appetite for its product in 2022, with a $5.4 billion trade surplus proving the world finds our steaks succulent and our lean trimmings irreplaceable, all while we simultaneously import the cuts we need less of from our allies.
Production
- US beef production reached 27.8 billion pounds in 2022, marking a 2.1% increase from 2021
- The US cattle inventory stood at 91.9 million head on January 1, 2023, the lowest since 1951
- In 2022, US commercial beef production totaled 26.4 billion pounds, down 1.4% from the previous year due to smaller cattle supplies
- Steer and heifer slaughter accounted for 64% of total US cattle slaughter in 2022, totaling 24.5 million head
- US fed cattle marketing reached 20.1 million head in 2022, with an average dressed weight of 883 pounds
- Cow slaughter in the US increased by 5.2% to 3.2 million head in 2022 amid drought conditions
- Bull slaughter represented 2.5% of total US cattle slaughter in 2022, totaling 0.9 million head
- US beef carcass weight averaged 828 pounds in 2022, up 1.5% from 2021 due to heavier animals
- The US beef industry processed 34.6 million cattle heads in 2022 across all categories
- Feeder cattle placements in US feedlots totaled 20.3 million head in 2022, down 3% year-over-year
- US calf crop in 2022 was estimated at 34.5 million head, reflecting herd contraction
- Beef cow inventory in the US dropped to 28.2 million head by January 1, 2023, a 2.2% decline
- Other cattle inventory (steers, heifers, bulls) totaled 63.7 million head on January 1, 2023
- US feedlot capacity utilization averaged 82% in 2022 with one million head capacity
- January 2023 US cattle on feed for 90 days or more numbered 10.8 million head
- Marketings from US feedlots in December 2022 totaled 1.75 million head, up 2% from prior year
- US beef production per capita from the commercial sector was 168.3 pounds in 2022
- Texas led US states with 4.5 million head slaughtered in 2022, representing 13% of total
- Kansas processed 6.2 million cattle heads in 2022, second highest in the US
- Nebraska beef packing plants handled 7.8 million head in 2022
- Colorado saw 2.1 million cattle slaughtered in 2022
- Iowa processed 1.9 million head in 2022 beef slaughter
- Oklahoma beef production from slaughter totaled 1.2 million head equivalent in 2022
- California contributed 0.8 million head to US beef slaughter in 2022
- US beef yield grade averaged 2.8 in 2022 across Choice and Select carcasses
- Prime beef production in the US reached 5.2% of total graded beef in 2022
- Choice grade beef comprised 52.3% of US federally graded beef in 2022
- Select grade beef was 28.1% of total US graded beef production in 2022
- US beef packer ownership of cattle averaged 12% of fed marketings in 2022
- Captive supply in US fed cattle market was 18-22% weekly average in 2022
- US per capita red meat production including beef was 220 pounds in 2022
Production Interpretation
Despite reaching record production, the American beef industry is essentially stretching its shrinking herd to impressive, if unsustainable, limits, like a family trying to feed a growing party with an ever-smaller cow.
Sustainability
- US beef greenhouse gas emissions totaled 253 million metric tons CO2e in 2022
- Beef production water use averaged 1,850 gallons per pound in US 2022 lifecycle
- US beef land use for grazing covered 654 million acres in 2022, 40% of continental US ag land
- Beef methane emissions from US enteric fermentation were 112 million metric tons CO2e in 2022
- Manure management from US beef cattle emitted 18 million metric tons CO2e in 2022
- US beef industry improved carbon sequestration by 1.2% per pound produced since 2017 to 2022
- 85% of US beef cows grazed on pasture for 180+ days in 2022
- Beef feed efficiency improved 12% from 1970 to 2022, using 25% less feed per pound
- US beef recycled 2.4 billion gallons of packing plant water in 2022
- Antibiotic use in US beef feedlots declined 33% from 2016 to 2022
- 72% of US beef producers adopted prescribed grazing in 2022 surveys
- Beef soil health practices covered 45 million acres in 2022
- US beef energy use per pound decreased 7% to 42 MJ/kg in 2022 lifecycle
- Wildlife habitat on US beef lands supported 1,200 species in 2022 assessments
- Cover crop adoption in beef operations reached 28% in 2022
- US beef nitrogen efficiency improved to 42% in 2022 from 35% in 2017
- Beef packing plants diverted 95% of waste from landfills in 2022, totaling 1.2 million tons recycled
- Renewable energy use in beef supply chain was 15% of total in 2022
- US beef deforestation impact was zero net acres in 2022 due to domestic sourcing
- Biodiversity index on grazed lands improved 8% in beef regions 2017-2022
Sustainability Interpretation
The US beef industry is walking a tightrope between its colossal environmental hoofprint and its genuine, if incremental, strides toward sustainability, where saving 2.4 billion gallons of water is laudable but still a drop in the bucket compared to the 1,850 gallons it takes to produce a single pound.
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