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
1Total US beef imports for consumption hit 3.4 billion pounds in 2022, up 10%
Verified2US per capita beef consumption was 58.1 pounds in 2022, down from 59.1 in 2021
Verified3Fresh beef retail sales volume reached 14.2 billion pounds in 2022
Verified4Processed beef products consumption totaled 12.5 billion pounds per capita adjusted in 2022
Directional5Ground beef accounted for 46% of total US fresh beef consumption in 2022
Single source6US household beef disappearance was 57.8 pounds per capita in 2022
Verified7Steak cuts represented 22% of US beef retail pounds sold in 2022
Verified8Roast beef consumption in foodservice sector grew 3% to 2.1 billion pounds in 2022
Verified9US beef demand index rose to 215.8 in 2022, highest since 2015
Directional10Per capita lamb and veal consumption was 1.2 pounds, but beef dominated at 58 pounds in 2022
Single source11Away-from-home beef consumption was 28% of total in 2022
Verified12At-home beef use per capita fell to 41 pounds boneless equivalent in 2022
Verified13Ground beef per capita consumption was 26.7 pounds in 2022
Verified14US beef exports for consumption totaled 3.2 billion pounds in 2022, up 11%
Directional15Total US red meat consumption per capita was 222.4 pounds in 2022, with beef at 58.1
Single source16Poultry displaced some beef consumption, with chicken at 98.6 pounds per capita in 2022
Verified17Pork per capita consumption was 65.7 pounds in 2022, below beef's share
Verified18Millennials consumed 15% more beef than Boomers per capita adjusted in 2022 surveys
Verified19Gen Z beef consumption frequency averaged 2.3 times weekly in 2022
Directional20Hispanic consumers represented 22% of US beef volume in 2022
Single source21Organic beef sales grew 12% to 450 million pounds in 2022 retail
Verified22Grass-fed beef retail share reached 4.2% of total beef sales in 2022
Verified23US beef consumption in quick-service restaurants totaled 1.8 billion pounds in 2022
Verified24Table service beef use was 2.4 billion pounds in 2022
Directional25School foodservice beef procurement hit 450 million pounds in 2022
Single sourceConsumption 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
1US beef industry contributed $351 billion to GDP in 2022
Verified2Beef sector supported 1.02 million direct jobs in the US in 2022
Verified3Total economic impact including indirect jobs reached 5.8 million from beef in 2022
Verified4US cattle and beef farm cash receipts were $92.5 billion in 2022
Directional5Beef processing and fabrication added $78 billion to economy in 2022
Single source6Wholesale beef value of production hit $105 billion in 2022
Verified7Retail beef sales generated $120 billion in 2022
Verified8Beef exports contributed $11.2 billion to US trade balance in 2022
Verified9Average US fed steer price was $144.50 per hundredweight in 2022
Directional10Feeder steer prices averaged $212 per cwt for 800 lb in 2022
Single source11US beef packer margin averaged $120 per head in 2022
Verified12Cattle ranching farm income netted $18.2 billion in 2022
Verified13Beef sector tax contributions totaled $52 billion federally in 2022
Verified14602,000 beef farms and ranches operated in US in 2022
Directional15Average beef cow herd size was 43.5 head per operation in 2022
Single source16Beef production costs per cwt rose to $128 in 2022, up 14%
Verified17Feed costs accounted for 62% of beef production expenses in 2022
Verified18Labor costs in beef packing averaged $1,200 per head processed in 2022
Verified19US beef retail price index rose 8.4% to 285.2 in 2022
Directional20Choice beef retail price averaged $8.45 per pound in 2022
Single source21Ground beef average retail price was $5.32 per pound in 2022
Verified22Beef industry invested $2.5 billion in capital expenditures in 2022
Verified23State-level GDP contribution from beef highest in Texas at $28 billion in 2022
Verified24Nebraska beef GDP impact was $22 billion in 2022
Directional25Kansas beef sector added $18.5 billion to GDP in 2022
Single source26Colorado beef economic output totaled $12.3 billion in 2022
VerifiedEconomic 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
1US beef exports reached a record 3.24 billion pounds carcass weight equivalent in 2022
Verified2Japan imported 599 million pounds of US beef in 2022, 18% of total US exports
Verified3South Korea took 474 million pounds of US beef exports in 2022, up 5%
Verified4Mexico imported 289 million pounds of US beef in 2022, primarily lean trimmings
Directional5China/Hong Kong region imported 253 million pounds of US beef in 2022
Single source6Canada received 208 million pounds of US beef exports in 2022
Verified7Taiwan imported 142 million pounds of US beef in 2022, growing 15%
Verified8Philippines took 88 million pounds of US beef in 2022
Verified9US beef export value hit $11.2 billion in 2022, a record high
Directional10Beef export share of US production was 11.5% in 2022
Single source11US lean beef exports to Mexico totaled 1.1 billion pounds product weight in 2022
Verified12Ground beef exports from US reached 450 million pounds in 2022
Verified13US beef imports from Australia were 1.2 billion pounds in 2022, 35% of total imports
Verified14Canada supplied 912 million pounds of US beef imports in 2022
Directional15Brazil exported 567 million pounds of beef to the US in 2022
Single source16New Zealand US beef imports totaled 345 million pounds in 2022
Verified17US beef import value was $5.8 billion in 2022
Verified18Import share of US beef supply was 12.2% in 2022
Verified19US exported beef to 84 countries in 2022, up from 78 in 2021
Directional20EU imported 45 million pounds of US beef in 2022 under quota
Single source21US beef trade surplus was $5.4 billion in 2022
Verified22Chile imported 67 million pounds of US beef in 2022
Verified23Colombia took 56 million pounds of US beef exports in 2022
Verified24US beef exports to Middle East totaled 120 million pounds in 2022
Directional25Peru imported 34 million pounds of US beef in 2022
Single source26US live cattle exports numbered 85,000 head in 2022, mostly to Mexico
Verified27Beef variety meat exports hit 850 million pounds in 2022
VerifiedExports/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
1US beef production reached 27.8 billion pounds in 2022, marking a 2.1% increase from 2021
Verified2The US cattle inventory stood at 91.9 million head on January 1, 2023, the lowest since 1951
Verified3In 2022, US commercial beef production totaled 26.4 billion pounds, down 1.4% from the previous year due to smaller cattle supplies
Verified4Steer and heifer slaughter accounted for 64% of total US cattle slaughter in 2022, totaling 24.5 million head
Directional5US fed cattle marketing reached 20.1 million head in 2022, with an average dressed weight of 883 pounds
Single source6Cow slaughter in the US increased by 5.2% to 3.2 million head in 2022 amid drought conditions
Verified7Bull slaughter represented 2.5% of total US cattle slaughter in 2022, totaling 0.9 million head
Verified8US beef carcass weight averaged 828 pounds in 2022, up 1.5% from 2021 due to heavier animals
Verified9The US beef industry processed 34.6 million cattle heads in 2022 across all categories
Directional10Feeder cattle placements in US feedlots totaled 20.3 million head in 2022, down 3% year-over-year
Single source11US calf crop in 2022 was estimated at 34.5 million head, reflecting herd contraction
Verified12Beef cow inventory in the US dropped to 28.2 million head by January 1, 2023, a 2.2% decline
Verified13Other cattle inventory (steers, heifers, bulls) totaled 63.7 million head on January 1, 2023
Verified14US feedlot capacity utilization averaged 82% in 2022 with one million head capacity
Directional15January 2023 US cattle on feed for 90 days or more numbered 10.8 million head
Single source16Marketings from US feedlots in December 2022 totaled 1.75 million head, up 2% from prior year
Verified17US beef production per capita from the commercial sector was 168.3 pounds in 2022
Verified18Texas led US states with 4.5 million head slaughtered in 2022, representing 13% of total
Verified19Kansas processed 6.2 million cattle heads in 2022, second highest in the US
Directional20Nebraska beef packing plants handled 7.8 million head in 2022
Single source21Colorado saw 2.1 million cattle slaughtered in 2022
Verified22Iowa processed 1.9 million head in 2022 beef slaughter
Verified23Oklahoma beef production from slaughter totaled 1.2 million head equivalent in 2022
Verified24California contributed 0.8 million head to US beef slaughter in 2022
Directional25US beef yield grade averaged 2.8 in 2022 across Choice and Select carcasses
Single source26Prime beef production in the US reached 5.2% of total graded beef in 2022
Verified27Choice grade beef comprised 52.3% of US federally graded beef in 2022
Verified28Select grade beef was 28.1% of total US graded beef production in 2022
Verified29US beef packer ownership of cattle averaged 12% of fed marketings in 2022
Directional30Captive supply in US fed cattle market was 18-22% weekly average in 2022
Single source31US per capita red meat production including beef was 220 pounds in 2022
VerifiedProduction 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
1US beef greenhouse gas emissions totaled 253 million metric tons CO2e in 2022
Verified2Beef production water use averaged 1,850 gallons per pound in US 2022 lifecycle
Verified3US beef land use for grazing covered 654 million acres in 2022, 40% of continental US ag land
Verified4Beef methane emissions from US enteric fermentation were 112 million metric tons CO2e in 2022
Directional5Manure management from US beef cattle emitted 18 million metric tons CO2e in 2022
Single source6US beef industry improved carbon sequestration by 1.2% per pound produced since 2017 to 2022
Verified785% of US beef cows grazed on pasture for 180+ days in 2022
Verified8Beef feed efficiency improved 12% from 1970 to 2022, using 25% less feed per pound
Verified9US beef recycled 2.4 billion gallons of packing plant water in 2022
Directional10Antibiotic use in US beef feedlots declined 33% from 2016 to 2022
Single source1172% of US beef producers adopted prescribed grazing in 2022 surveys
Verified12Beef soil health practices covered 45 million acres in 2022
Verified13US beef energy use per pound decreased 7% to 42 MJ/kg in 2022 lifecycle
Verified14Wildlife habitat on US beef lands supported 1,200 species in 2022 assessments
Directional15Cover crop adoption in beef operations reached 28% in 2022
Single source16US beef nitrogen efficiency improved to 42% in 2022 from 35% in 2017
Verified17Beef packing plants diverted 95% of waste from landfills in 2022, totaling 1.2 million tons recycled
Verified18Renewable energy use in beef supply chain was 15% of total in 2022
Verified19US beef deforestation impact was zero net acres in 2022 due to domestic sourcing
Directional20Biodiversity index on grazed lands improved 8% in beef regions 2017-2022
Single sourceSustainability 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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