Source: USDA AMS Agricultural Analytics Division Page 1

Any opinions expressed represent those of the authors for the limited purpose of this newsletter and do not represent the official position of the Department. 

A monthly publication of the USDA AMS, Livestock and Poultry Program, Agricultural Analytics Division Volume 1-21

January 2021

EGGS

Production

Table egg production fell 2 percent monthly in November to 

674 million dozen, down 3 percent yearly from 2019 levels. 

Shell eggs broken fell 3 percent monthly to 186 million dozen, 

4 percent below 2019 levels. As shown in the figure, while 

table-egg layers-on-hand were unchanged in November at 325

million, their 2020 level was 4 to 5 percent below the 2019

level since the 2nd quarter. Also, while pullet additions were 

unchanged on a monthly basis, they were also 5 percent below 

their previous year’s level. Production of egg-type hatching 

eggs fell 2 percent to 6.6 million, down 10 percent from the 

year before. The inventory of egg-type hatching-egg layers on 

the first of December stood at 3,281 thousand, 5 percent 

higher monthly but 5 percent lower yearly. Production of 

broiler-type hatching eggs fell 3 percent monthly to 95.3

million, up 6 percent from 2019. The inventory of broiler-type 

hatching-egg layers was unchanged monthly at 61.4 million, up 

2 percent monthly and 4 percent yearly.

Price

Egg prices continued seasonal price declines in December. The 

New York egg price fell 21 percent monthly to $0.91 per dozen, 

down 27 percent from its 2019 level. The monthly national 

index price lost 28 percent monthly to $0.48 per dozen, down 

21 percent from December 2019. The Central States breaking 

stock price fell 41 percent to $0.41 per dozen, down 18 percent 

from 2019. 

International Trade

In volume terms, U.S. table shell egg exports fell 4 percent 

monthly in November to 9.8 million dozen, a 2 percent fall from 

the previous year’s level. In value terms, exports fell only 2

percent monthly to $9.0 million, 7 percent below the 2020 

value. Hong Kong, Mexico, and Canada led export destinations 

with 42, 34 and 10 percent of exports by volume. At 2.6

thousand metric tons (MT), egg product exports fell 4 percent 

monthly and 36 percent yearly. Egg product values were down 

2 percent monthly to $10.6 million but down 16 percent from 

the previous year with Japan, Canada, and Mexico receiving 58 

percent of total U.S. egg product exports by volume. 

TURKEY

Production

November turkey production fell 12 percent monthly to 458 

million pounds, down 2 percent from the November 2019 

volume. Total turkey in cold storage dropped 48 percent on a 

monthly basis to 194 million pounds. While this sharp 

decrease largely reflected Thanksgiving stock drawdowns end 

of month inventories were down 12 percent from the 

November 2019 level, having tracked lower on a yearly basis 

for all of 2020. Compared to November 2019, whole birds in 

cold storage were down 37 percent. Breasts in cold storage fell 

13 percent but was up 5 percent yearly. Legs and mechanically 

deboned meat fell 5 and 6 percent monthly and were down

respectively 36 and 14 percent yearly. Future production 

indicators were mixed and suggest only modest changes from 

the previous year’s level. Poult placements were down 1 

percent both monthly and yearly. Turkey eggs in incubators 

rose 1 percent monthly and 1 percent yearly. Poults hatched

fell 5 percent monthly and 1 percent yearly. 

Price

As shown in the Figure, the whole frozen hen price rose 3

percent monthly to $1.10 per pound. Also, the whole frozen 

tom price rose 2 percent to $1.12 per pound with prices for 

both hens and toms being up 15 percent yearly. While

unchanged monthly at $1.32 per pound, prices for both fresh 

toms and fresh hens were also up 15 percent over the previous 

year’s level. Turkey parts prices, however, were largely 

unchanged in December and remained well below 2019 prices. 

The boneless, skinless breast price fell 1 percent from 

December to $1.70 per pound, down 12 percent yearly. The 

tom drumstick price rose 1 percent monthly to $0.63 per

pound but was down 14 percent yearly. The thigh meat price 

was unchanged at $1.18 per pound but remained down 24 

percent from December 2019.

International Trade

Turkey exports showed seasonal volume and value declines in 

November. In volume terms, turkey exports fell 15 percent to 

24.4 thousand MT, 11 percent below the previous year’s level. 

In value terms, exports fell 12 percent to $55.5 million, down 

16 percent from 2019. Mexico, China, and Guatemala led 

export destinations purchasing 66 percent, 7 percent and 3

percent, respectively, of U.S. exports by value.
Source: USDA AMS Agricultural Analytics Division Page 2

Any opinions expressed represent those of the authors for the limited purpose of this newsletter and do not represent the official position of the Department. 

CHICKEN

Production

Production of young chickens on a ready-to-cook basis was 

down 10 percent monthly at 3.47 billion pounds, a 1 percent 

increase year-over-year. Similarly, broiler slaughter was down 

9 percent monthly at 718 million head, a 1 percent increase 

yearly. For 2020 as a whole, average live weights increased 2 

percent on the previous year. Broiler egg sets rose 4 percent 

in December to 1,038 million, down 1 percent from its previous 

year's level. Broiler chicks placed fell 9 percent monthly to 830

million and fell 1 percent yearly. Total stocks of chicken in cold 

storage at the end of November fell 3 percent monthly to 882

million pounds, down 10 percent from 2019. Stocks of whole 

broilers fell 22 percent monthly and 18 percent yearly. Major 

chicken parts showed mixed movements. Boneless thighs in 

cold storage fell 1 percent monthly and 40 percent yearly. 

Drumstick stocks fell 8 percent monthly and 16 percent yearly. 

Boneless, skinless chicken breast stocks rose 5 percent 

monthly and 23 percent yearly. Wings in cold storage fell 2

percent monthly and 29 percent yearly, with monthly prices 

being at record high of $2.28 per pound. Leg quarter supplies

were down 17 percent monthly and 36 percent yearly.

Price

The November National Composite Whole Body broiler price 

rose 7 percent monthly to $0.82 per pound but was down 3

percent yearly. Boneless, skinless breast prices were down 5 

percent at $0.94, down 4 percent yearly. Bone-in breast prices 

rose 2 percent to $1.06 per pound, up 3 percent yearly. Bonein thigh prices added 10 percent to $0.49 per pound, down 24

percent yearly. Tenderloin prices rose 6 percent to $1.58 per 

pound, up 26 percent yearly. Dark meat leg quarters increased

10 percent monthly to $0.28 per pound, 26 percent lower 

yearly. Boneless skinless thigh prices fell 4 percent monthly to 

$0.58 per pound, 48 percent below the previous year's price. 

Drumstick prices were up 4 percent monthly at $0.41 per 

pound, up 10 percent yearly. 

International Trade

In volume terms, November chicken exports fell 7 percent in 

volume to 294 thousand MT, up 1 percent from 2019’s level. In 

value terms, exports fell 4 percent in value to $257 million,

down 5 percent yearly. Mexico, China, and Canada are shares 

of U.S. chicken export values were 22 percent, 14 percent, and 

7 percent, respectively. Chicken imports fell 11 percent volume 

and value terms from the previous year’s level. At $17 million, 

imports are 16 percent higher than the 2019 level. 

BEEF/VEAL

Production

November 2020 beef production totaled 2.26 billion pounds, 1

percent lower than in 2019 and 8 percent below October 2020. 

Cattle slaughter was 2.70 million head, 3 percent lower yearover-year and down 8 percent monthly. The average live 

weight added 13 pounds yearly and 3 pounds from October to

1,388 pounds. Veal production in November 2020 was 4.8

million pounds, 20 percent lower year-over-year, and down 9

percent from October. Calf slaughter totaled 35,000 head, 

down 25 percent yearly and 6 percent below the prior month.

The average live calf weight was up 14 pounds from 2019 but 

down 10 pounds monthly at 241 pounds. Total beef production 

for the year to date was slightly below last year, while veal 

production dropped 14 percent. Total beef in cold storage at 

the end of November was up 7 percent compared with 

November 2019 and up 2 percent from October. Stocks of

boneless beef were up 6 percent from last year, and 3 percent 

higher than the month before. Beef cuts in freezers were 4

percent lower month-over-month but up 15 percent yearover-year. Veal supplies were up 5 percent from the previous 

month and up 66 percent yearly.

Price

The monthly average Live cattle prices (FOB, steers and heifers)

held steady for the month of December at $109 per cwt down 

9 percent from December 2019. The monthly average beef 

cutout value lost $7 per cwt to $219 per cwt, down 3 percent 

monthly and down slightly from last year. 90% lean boneless 

gained $5 to $205 per cwt, increasing the price 2 percent from 

November but dropping 15 percent yearly. The December 50%

lean trim average fell $5, down 13 percent on a monthly basis, 

and 45 percent yearly to $35 per cwt. The variation of prices 

through 2020 for this product can be seen in the graphs below.

The average price for hide-off veal carcasses added $2 to $293

per cwt, up 1 percent from November, but down 4 percent 

from 2019.

International Trade

Compared to 2019, November 2020 beef and veal exports 

(including variety meats) increased to 115 thousand MT,

gaining 6 percent yearly and 7 percent monthly. The export 

value rose 8 percent from last year and 10 percent from last 

month to $707 million. For the year to date beef exports 

remain down 6 percent from 2019, and the value of exports is 

down 7 percent. In November South Korea, Japan, Mexico, 

Hong Kong and China were our top overseas markets. Yearover-year beef import volumes for November fell 4 percent

compared to last year for a total of 83.5 thousand MT and were 

down 1 percent in value at $528 million. On a monthly basis

volume fell 6 percent and value fell 3 percent. So far this year 

2020 beef imports were up 15 percent in value and 10 percent 

in volume. Canada. Australia. Mexico, Brazil and New Zealand 

imported were the largest importers to the U.S. in November

2020.
Source: USDA AMS Agricultural Analytics Division Page 3

Any opinions expressed represent those of the authors for the limited purpose of this newsletter and do not represent the official position of the Department. 

PORK

Production

Total pork production in November was 2.41 billion pounds, 

down 7 percent monthly and down 1 percent from last year. 

The number of hogs slaughtered was 11 million head, 3 percent

below 2019 and down 8 percent from October. Average live 

hog weight rose 6 pounds yearly and 3 pounds monthly to 294

pounds. Total 2020 pork production to date is up 2 percent 

from this period in 2019. Stocks of all pork in cold storage at 

the end of November were down 7 percent from October and

28 percent below last year. Ham inventories are down 31

percent compared to the volume last month and are down 32

percent year-over-year. Stocks of bone-in hams fell 49 percent

monthly and 31 percent yearly, while boneless hams were

down 32 and 33 percent, respectively. Bellies added 21 percent 

to the prior month inventory but fell 58 percent yearly. Total 

loin stocks were down 15 percent on a monthly basis and were 

down 27 percent yearly. Pork rib stocks were up 10 percent 

from October but fell 28 percent year-over-year. Pork 

trimmings in freezers added 10 percent monthly and 1 percent 

yearly.

Price

The monthly average negotiated carcass price for barrows and 

gilts in December 2020 lost $6 per cwt to $53 per cwt, 10

percent below November’s average, but 14 percent higher

yearly. The pork cutout value fell $6 in December, down 7

percent monthly and 5 percent yearly to $75 per cwt. Prices of 

boneless center cut loin, strap on rose $3 to $117 per cwt, 

down 10 percent from November and 40 percent below 2019. 

The price for trimmed, selected hams, 23-27 pounds dropped 

$11 month-over-month to $59 per cwt, down 15 percent 

monthly and down 24 percent yearly. The 72 percent lean pork 

trimmings price (shown below) fell $16 to $73 per cwt, down 

18 percent from the November value but up percent from 

2019. Prices for picnic meat combos, cushion out, fell $8 to a 

monthly average of $85 per cwt, down 9 percent monthly and 

10 percent year-over-year. Pork belly primal values slipped $8

between November and December to $92 per cwt, losing 24

percent monthly and 21 percent yearly. 

International Trade

Exports of pork (including variety meats) were down slightly 

from the November 2019 volume at 253 thousand metric tons 

and fell 2 percent in value to $668 million. Compared to 

October, export volume was up 7 percent and value was up 8

percent. Cumulative exports for 2020 so far are up 14 percent 

in volume and up 15 percent in value. Japan, China, Mexico, 

Canada and South Korea continued to be our largest export 

markets. Compared to last year, November pork imports were 

15 percent higher in volume at 38 thousand MT and increased 

23 percent in value at $151 million. Import volume added 2

percent from October and value was up 1 percent. For the year 

to date, the volume of pork imports was down 7 percent from 

2019, and the value down 2 percent. The largest volume of 

pork imports in November came from Canada. Italy, Poland,

Denmark and Mexico.

LAMB

Production

November lamb and mutton production was 10.6 million 

pounds, the same as October, but down 6 

percent yearly. Sheep slaughter totaled 180,400 head, falling

2 percent monthly and 1 percent yearly. The average live 

weight was up 2 pounds from last month and 7 pounds below

last year at 118 pounds. January to November 2020 

commercial lamb and mutton production lost 8 percent from

2019. Lamb stocks in cold storage were down 24 percent from

2019 but were 1 percent higher on a monthly basis.

Price

Negotiated live slaughter lamb average price for this period fell 

$7 to $160 per cwt., down 4 percent from November but 6

percent higher than December 2019. The lamb cutout value 

lost $16 on a monthly basis to average $445 per cwt, down 4 

percent monthly but 12 percent higher yearly. Leg of lamb, 

trotter-off (IMPS 233C) slipped $2 for an average of $395 per 

cwt, down slightly from the previous month but 7 percent

higher yearly. The average price for lamb shoulder (IMPS 207) 

in December lost $1 to $366 per cwt, down slightly from the 

month before and up 12 percent from December 2019. 

Trimmed 4x4 loins (IMPS 232) fell $13 to $697 per cwt, 2

percent lower than November but 31 percent above last year. 

International Trade

The U.S. lamb export volume lost 80 percent in November

relative to October, and 42 percent year-over year, at 84 metric 

tons. The export sales value fell 57 percent from the prior 

month and fell 58 percent relative to 2019 at $0.42 million. For 

the year 2020 so far, lamb exports were 310 percent above the 

2019 volume, but the value of exports was up only 1 percent. 

The destinations for the highest volume of lamb exports went 

to Bermuda, Mexico and the Netherlands Antilles. Imports of 

lamb to the U.S. increased 30 percent in November compared 

to October at 10.3 thousand metric tons, while the value of 

imports rose 20 percent to $77 million. Year-over-year imports 

were 22 percent higher in volume and up 6 percent lower in 

value. Total lamb imports for 2020 so far are up 9 percent in 

volume, but down 11 percent relative to 2019. Nearly threefourths of the November lamb imports were from Australia, 

one-quarter from New Zealand, and a small portion of lamb 

imports coming from Mexico, Uruguay and Chile.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its 

Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or 

administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating 

based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity 

(including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, 

marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public 

assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior 

civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by 

USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint 

filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
Source: USDA AMS Agricultural Analytics Division Page 4

Any opinions expressed represent those of the authors for the limited purpose of this newsletter and do not represent the official position of the Department. 

310

315

320

325

330

335

340

345

350

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

thousand layers

Table-Egg Layers on Hand 1st of Month

2020 2019 2016-2018 avg

40.0

60.0

80.0

100.0

120.0

140.0

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

dollars per hundredweight

Monthly Pork 72% Trim Combo Price

2020 2019 2016-2018 avg

25.0

75.0

125.0

175.0

225.0

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

dollars per hundredweight

Monthly 50% Beef Trimmings Price 

2020 2019 2016-2018 avg

75.00

85.00

95.00

105.00

115.00

125.00

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

cents per pound

Nat'l Whole Frozen Turkey Hen Price

2020 2019 2016-2018 avg