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 10-21

October 2021

EGGS

Production

At 676 million dozen, August table egg production was 

unchanged in both monthly and yearly terms. At 199 million 

dozen, shell eggs broken were up 1 percent monthly and up 8

percent yearly. Table egg layers-on-hand were unchanged in 

September at 319 million, also unchanged from the 2020 level. 

Egg-type hatching-egg layers-on-hand were down 1 percent 

monthly and down 14 percent yearly to 2.8 million. Production 

of egg-type hatching eggs was down 1 percent monthly to 6.2 

million dozen, down 14 percent from July 2020. 

Pullet additions (of both broiler- and egg-type layers) rose in 

August to 26.4 million, a 4 percent increase from June and 2 

percent below the July 2020 average. Broiler-type hatching egg 

layers-on-hand on the first of the September were again down 

0.9 percent monthly at 62.2 million. Despite this adjustment, 

broiler-type hatching egg production was unchanged in August

to 100.4 million dozen, up 3 percent from its 2020 level. 

Price

Egg prices showed uneven changes in 2021. The New York shell 

egg price rose to $1.30 per dozen, up 3 percent from August but 

with a declining end-of-the-month trend. Nonetheless, this 

price is 27 percent above the previous year’s level. The monthly 

National Index price fell 4 percent monthly to $0.77 per dozen, 

31 percent higher than the 2020 level. The Central States 

Breaking Stock price was unchanged at $0.63 per dozen, 19

percent above the 2020 level.

International Trade

In volume terms, U.S. shell egg exports in July rose 23 percent 

monthly to 17.9 million dozen, up 29 percent compared to 

August 2020. In value terms, exports rose 33 percent monthly 

to $17.2 million, 92 percent above the 2020 value. Egg product 

exports decreased 3 percent to 2,917 metric tons, up 26 percent 

yearly. In value terms, egg product exports decreased 6 percent 

to $11.4 million, up 7 percent yearly. For shell eggs, exports to 

South Korea jumped 92 percent to capture a 42 percent share 

of all imports by volume. Hong Kong and Mexico followed with 

27 and 20 percent export shares. 

TURKEY

Production

August turkey production rose 2 percent monthly to 4.69

million pounds, 1 percent below the 2020 level. Similarly, 

turkey slaughter increased 4 percent to 18.7 million, also 1

percent below the 2020 level. Against typical seasonal trends, 

total turkey in cold storage fell 2 percent to 425 million pounds 

in August, down 20 percent yearly. Stocks decreases were 

primarily oriented towards breast meat and mechanically 

deboned meat, which fell 13 percent and 17 percent 

respectively. Approaching the Thanksgiving holiday, smaller 

whole bird hen stocks fell 2 percent and larger whole bird toms 

rose less than 1 percent monthly, combining for a slight 

decrease of less than 1 percent. This early drawdown places 

whole bird stocks at 261 million pounds, 10 percent below the 

2020 level. Legs stocks, the only gaining category, increased 15 

percent to 8.2 million. 

Future indicators for turkey signal continued reductions in 

production. Poult placements fell 3 percent monthly in August 

to 21.4 million but are up 2 percent from the 2020 level. Poults

hatched fell 0.4 percent in August to 22.5 million and are up 

slightly yearly. At 24.7 million, turkey eggs in incubators on 

September 1st were 8 percent less than August levels and 5 

percent below 2020 levels. 

Price

Turkey prices continue their persistent 2021 increase across 

most categories. The price of whole frozen toms rose 8 percent 

to $1.36 per pound. The price of whole frozen hens rose 3

percent to $1.32 per pound. The fresh price for toms rose to 

$1.50 per pound, up 2 percent monthly and 19 percent yearly.

The price of turkey hens was unreported due to low volume of 

trade. Turkey breast prices rose sharply by 10 percent in 

September to $3.20 per pound, a 54 percent increase. Drums 

and thigh prices were unchanged at $1.06 and $2.02 per pound, 

respectively, still up 50 percent and 30 percent annually. 

International Trade

In volume terms, turkey exports fell 3 percent to 20.5 thousand 

metric tons, 6 percent below the August 2020 level. In value 

terms, exports fell 5 percent to 59.1 million, up 30 percent 

yearly. Exports to Mexico fell 3 percent. Mexico had a 65 

percent export share. 
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 (RTC) basis 

rose 4 percent monthly in August to 3.9 billion pounds, a 4 

percent increase from the 2020 level. Broiler slaughter similarly 

rose 4 percent monthly to 798 million head, 4 percent above 

the August 2020 level. Decrease hatchability in broiler eggs 

through most of 2020 have caused a divergence in annual 

trends in eggs set and chicks placed. Broiler chicks placed fell 5

percent in September to 783 million, down 1 percent from 

2020. Broiler egg set also fell 6 percent monthly to 993 million 

but is up 4 percent yearly. The most recent 4-week average has 

broiler chicks placed down 1.6 percent compared to 2020. As 

shown in the Figure, the share of breast and thigh meat sold 

bone-in and skin-on has more than doubled since 2018.

Total stocks of chicken (including paws) in cold storage at the 

end of August fell 3 percent monthly to 708 million pounds, 

down 20 percent from its 2020 level. Stocks of whole broilers 

rose 14 percent monthly but remain down 52 percent from 

2020. Stocks of lightly processed cuts either increased or saw 

modest declines, including bone-in thighs and wings gaining 31 

percent and 2 percent, and drums and leg quarters losing 4 and 

1 percent respectively, monthly. Cuts requiring more processing 

saw larger declines in stocks, with breasts falling 9 percent for 

breasts and boneless, skinless thighs falling 11 percent. Stocks 

of breasts, leg quarters, and drums, the three largest categories, 

are down 21, 6, and 15 percent from the 2020. 

Price

The National Composite Whole Body broiler price rose 1 

percent monthly to $1.06 per pound, up 66 percent from the 

2020 level. As shown in the Figure, the price premia between 

processed cuts and unprocessed (skin-on, bone-in) 

counterparts widened in September. The boneless, skinless 

breast price rose 11 percent monthly to $2.08 per pound, up 

111 percent yearly. The bone-in breast price was unchanged at 

$1.17 per pound, up 20 percent yearly. Boneless, skinless thigh 

prices rose 1 percent to $2.05 per pound, down 207 percent 

yearly. Bone-in, skin-on thigh prices rose 7 percent to $0.73 per 

pound, up 88 percent yearly. 

Tenderloin prices rose 2 percent to a $3.02 per pound, up 67

percent yearly. Wing prices recovered some of their previous 

month’s losses to fall 2 percent to $3.11 per pound, up 50

percent annually. Leg quarters fell 2 percent monthly to $0.42

per pound, 80 percent above its September 2020 level. 

Drumsticks increased 7 percent monthly to $0.46 per pound, 25 

percent above last 20 percent from the September 2020 level. 

International Trade

In volume terms, August chicken exports rose 9 percent to 295

thousand metric tons, up 6 percent from 2020. In value terms, 

chicken exports rose 3 percent to $338 million, up 39 percent 

yearly. 

BEEF/VEAL

Production

August 2021 beef production added 1 percent to last year’s 

level and rose 2 percent from July at 2.36 billion pounds. Cattle 

slaughter was 2.89 million head, 1 percent higher monthly and

3 percent higher year-over-year. Average live weight fell 11

pounds yearly but gained 5 pounds from July at 1,354 pounds. 

August veal production totaled 4.3 million pounds, up 10

percent from July but down 14 percent year-over-year. Calf 

slaughter equaled 34,800 head, 2 percent above 2020 and up 4

percent monthly. Live calves on average weighed 38 fewer

poundsthan the year before but 9 more poundsthan July at 214

pounds. January to August 2021 cumulative beef production 

was 4 percent above last year, while year-to-date veal 

production was down 21 percent from 2020.

Total beef in cold storage at the end of August fell 8 percent 

from August 2020 but gained 4 percent from July, with boneless

beef also down 8 percent yearly but up 4 percent monthly. Beef 

cuts in freezers were down 2 percent year-over-year but 

compared to July, rose 4 percent. Veal inventories were 13

percent lower than 2020 but up 12 percent monthly.

Price

In September, live cattle prices (FOB, steers and heifers) held 

steady at $124 per cwt, 19 percent higher yearly for the second 

month in a row. The beef cutout value, shown in the graphs 

below, lost $6 for a monthly average of $317 per cwt, down 2

percent monthly but 45 percent higher yearly, and more than 

50 percent above the average from 2017-2019. The 90 percent

lean boneless beef value rose $2 to $278 per cwt, up 1 percent 

monthly and 28 percent above 2020. The 50 percent lean trim

average monthly price fell $17 to $139, down 12 percent

monthly but 213 percent higher yearly. With the ongoing 

decline in inventory, the average price for hide-off veal 

carcasses added $12 to $358 per cwt in September, up 3

percent from August and 26 percent from last year.

International Trade

August 2021 beef and veal exports (including variety meats) 

totaled 133 thousand MT, up 21 percent yearly and 8 percent 

monthly. Export value increased 55 percent from last year and 

11 percent from last month at $1.04 billion. Beef and veal total 

exports for the year to date are up 18 percent in volume and 30

percent in value. South Korea again topped the list of export 

markets, purchasing 23 percent of the volume and 22 percent 

of the value, with Japan close behind with 20 percent of imports 

and 23 of the value. China imported 19 percent of both value 

and volume exported. Beef and veal import volumes for August

fell 4 percent from the year before to 118 thousand MT but 

gained 8 percent year-over-year. The import value of beef to the 

U.S. was $875 million, up 9 percent monthly and 25 percent 

yearly. The year-to-date total of beef and veal imports was 6

percent lower in volume but 10 percent higher in value. Canada

sent 31 percent of the beef (volume), with 20 percent from 

Mexico, 17 percent from New Zealand, 12 percent from

Australia and 9 percent from Brazil.
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

August pork production fell 5 percent from last year but rose 8 

percent monthly to total 2.21 billion pounds. Total hogs 

slaughtered regained the 8 percent lost in July but fell 5 percent 

from 2020 to 10.6 million head. Average live hog weight slipped 

1 pound monthly and 2 pounds yearly at 280 pounds. 2021 yearto-date pork production remained 1 percent below last year.

All pork in cold storage in August was up 4 percent from July but

was 1 percent lower yearly. Monthly total hams in cold storage

increased 22 percent, and for the yearrose by 29 percent. Bonein ham supplies added 31 percent monthly and 65 percent 

yearly, while boneless hams gained 13 percent monthly and 4

percent yearly. Belly inventories dropped 37 percent over the 

month and fell 44 percent from August 2020. Total loin stocks 

added 1 percent monthly but fell 21 percent year-over-year. 

Pork trimmings in freezers lost 1 percent yearly while adding 4

percent to July stocks. 

Price

The September negotiated carcass price for barrows and gilts 

fell for the third consecutive month from $98 to $83 per cwt, 15

percent lower monthly, but up 47 percent yearly. The pork 

cutout value, shown in the graph below, lost $13, or 11 percent, 

to average $108 per cwt, 27 percent higher yearly and up 44 

percent from the 2017-2019 historical average. Boneless center 

cut loin prices, slipped $11 to $157 per cwt, losing 6 percent for 

the month but up 36 percent from last September. Trimmed, 

selected ham prices (23-27 pounds) again lost $12 for an 

average of $60 per cwt, 16 percent below August and down 1

percent yearly. The 72 percent lean pork trimmings price

tumbled $32 to $110 per cwt; 22 percent lower monthly but 32

percent above 2020. Picnic meat combo, cushion out prices fell

$21 to $114 per cwt, 16 percent below August but up 26 percent

yearly. Pork belly primal values had the usual seasonal crash, 

dropping $43 in September to $170 per cwt, down 20 percent

monthly but remaining 23 percent above last year. 

International Trade

Exports of pork were 4 percent above August 2020 at 221

thousand metric tons, and up 21 percent in value at $612

million. Compared to July, export volume was up 2 percent 

while value was down 4 percent. For the year so far, pork export 

volume remains up 1 percent and value up 9 percent from 2020. 

38 percent of our pork exports were sent to Mexico (26 percent 

of the value) while Japan purchased 18 percent of our pork 

exports (27 percent of value). Ten percent of pork export 

markets went to Canada. Year-over-year, August pork imports 

were up 39 percent in volume at 48 thousand MT and up 59

percent in value at $208 million. Compared to July import 

volume and value were up 21 and 18 percent, respectively.

Cumulative yearly imports through August were 23 percent in 

volume and 39 percent in value. 64 percent of pork imports 

came from Canada, with 8 percent from Poland, 7 percent from

Mexico and 5 percent from Denmark.

LAMB

Production

August lamb and mutton production declined 6 percent yearly

to 10.3 million pounds, and 4 percent below July. Sheep 

slaughter totaled 176,400 head, down 1 percent from 2020 and 

5 percent lower monthly. The average live weight increased 1

pound from last month but dropped 7 pounds from last year to

116 pounds. January to August 2021 lamb production was down 

3 percent yearly. Lamb stocks in cold storage were down 44

percent from 2020 and up 5 percent from July.

Price

The September negotiated live slaughter lamb price lost $15 to

$247 per cwt, 6 percent lower monthly, with no 2020 price to 

compare on a yearly basis. The lamb cutout value slipped $2 in

September to $689 per cwt, a slight decrease monthly but 63

percent yearly. Leg of lamb, trotter-off (IMPS 233A) inched up

$1 for an average of $605 per cwt, a slight monthly rise and 65

percent higher yearly. The lamb shoulder (IMPS 207) price fell

$7, or 1 percent month-over-month but remained 61 percent

higher yearly at $548 per cwt. Ground lamb (IMPS 296) dropped

$23 to an average of $792 per cwt, down 3 percent from August

but 36 percent above 2020. 

International Trade

Lamb export volume in August reversed its decline, up nearly 

300 percent from July at 193 metric tons with value up 43

percent at $859,000. Export volume was down 88 percent from 

2020 and value down 50 percent. January to August cumulative 

exports were 84 percent below 2020 and value down 50

percent. The top destinations for U.S. lamb exports were

Mexico (64 percent of the volume but 28 percent of value) and

The Bahamas (12 percent of volume and 14 percent of value).

Imports of lamb to the U.S. increased 39 percent in August

compared to 2020 at 12.9 thousand metric tons, while the value 

of imports increased 104 percent to $126 million. Since July,

import volume was down 9 percent but value was up 6 percent. 

To date, 2021 imports are up 8 percent with value up 27

percent. 77 percent of lamb imports were from Australia and 21

percent from New Zealand.

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. 

3%

8%

11%

24%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Jan-15

May-15

Sep-15

Jan-16

May-16

Sep-16

Jan-17

May-17

Sep-17

Jan-18

May-18

Sep-18

Jan-19

May-19

Sep-19

Jan-20

May-20

Sep-20

Jan-21

May-21

Share of Chicken Sold with Bone-in and Skin-on 

Breasts Thighs

175.0

225.0

275.0

325.0

375.0

425.0

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

dollars per hundredweight

Monthly Choice 600-900 lb. Beef Cutout Value

2021 2020 2017-2019 avg

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

100.0

110.0

120.0

130.0

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

dollars per hundredweight

Monthly Pork Carcass Cutout Value

2021 2020 2017-2019 avg

 $(0.25)

 $(0.05)

 $0.15

 $0.35

 $0.55

 $0.75

 $0.95

 $1.15

 $1.35

Jan-15

Apr-15

Jul-15

Oct-15

Jan-16

Apr-16

Jul-16

Oct-16

Jan-17

Apr-17

Jul-17

Oct-17

Jan-18

Apr-18

Jul-18

Oct-18

Jan-19

Apr-19

Jul-19

Oct-19

Jan-20

Apr-20

Jul-20

Oct-20

Jan-21

Apr-21

Jul-21

Price Premium for Boneless Skinless Cuts of Chicken in Dollars

Breast Thighs