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 5-21

May 2021

EGGS

Production

At 687 million dozen, table egg production was 1 percent 

below its 2020 level, a 10 percent increase from the previous 

month, an increase largely explained by difference in 

production days. At 187 million dozen, shell eggs broken were 

3 percent below their March 2020 level, also 10 percent above 

February’s level. Table egg layers-on-hand edged down less 

than a percent at the start of April to 325 million, 2 percent 

below its 2020 level. Egg-type hatching-egg layers-on-hand 

were down 6 percent monthly and down 9 percent yearly to 

3.0 million. 

Future indicators signaled decreased egg production and 

increased broiler production compared to 2020 levels. Pullet 

additions were unchanged at 26 million, an 8 percent decrease 

from March 2020. Production of egg-type hatching eggs rose 8

percent monthly to 6.9 million dozen but were 9 percent down 

from March 2020. Broiler hatching flock indicators signaled 

modest growth. Broiler-type hatching eggs layers-on-hand on 

the first of the April were unchanged at 63.6 million but up 3 

percent from the previous year. Broiler-type hatching egg

production rose 11 percent monthly in March to 100 million 

dozen, up 5 percent from its 2020 level. 

Price

Prices of both shell and broken eggs showed steep declines in 

April. The New York shell egg price fell 31 percent monthly to 

$1.01 per dozen, 52 percent less than the previous year’s level, 

which had reflected panic buying from COVID-19. The monthly 

National Index price fell 36 percent monthly to $0.60 per 

dozen, similarly 37 percent lower than the April 2020 level. The 

Central States Breaking Stock price fell 21 percent to $0.56 per 

dozen, 40 percent above the 2020 level.

International Trade

In volume terms, U.S. shell egg exports in March rose 30 

percent to 16.2 million dozen, a 75 percent increase from the 

March 2020 level. In value terms, exports rose 47 percent 

monthly to $17.5 million, 56 percent above its previous year’s 

value. Canada led export destinations with a 45 percent share 

by volume, it’s sharp monthly increase likely coming from 

imports preceding Easter. Egg product exports increased 37 

percent to 3.8 million MTs, up 19 percent yearly.

TURKEY

Production

February turkey production increased 24 percent monthly to 

521 million pounds, a level 3 percent above the previous 

February output. Total turkey in cold storage rose seasonally 

9 percent to 350 million pounds in March but was down 10 

percent yearly. Compared to 2020 levels, stocks were down 

across all major categories. Whole birds in cold storage were 

down 2 percent yearly, breasts were down 26 percent, legs 

were down 28 percent, mechanically deboned meat was down 

31 percent, and unclassified parts were down 2 percent. 

Future indicators for turkey suggested reduced production 

compared with 2020 levels. Poult placements were up 9 

percent monthly at 20 million, but down 5 percent from its 

2020 level. The attached table shows the steady decline in 

poult placements and turkey slaughter since 2018. Poults 

hatched rose 6 percent in March but were down 8 percent 

yearly. Turkey eggs in incubators rose 4 percent monthly to 27 

million but were down 3 percent from the April 2020 level. 

Price

Turkey meat prices rose moderately across most categories in 

April and remain significantly above 2020 levels. The price for 

whole frozen hens rose 2 percent monthly to $1.14 per pound, 

up 12 percent from April 2020. Prices for whole frozen toms 

rose 7 percent to $1.18 per pound. The fresh hen price fell 1 

percent monthly to $1.28 per pound, 6 percent above the April 

2020 price. Whole fresh toms rose 1 percent to $1.29 per 

pound, 8 percent above the April 2020 level. 

The boneless, skinless turkey breast price rose 1 percent in 

April to $1.69 per pound, up 10 percent from 2020. The tom 

drumstick price rose 3 percent monthly to $0.79 per pound, 11 

percent higher yearly. The thigh meat price rose 16 percent to 

$1.60 per pound, 37 percent higher yearly. 

International Trade

In volume terms, turkey exports increased 23 percent to 23.1 

thousand MTs, 2 percent below the March 2020 level. In value 

terms, exports rose 27 percent to $51 million, down 9 percent 

yearly. The top turkey export destination was Mexico with a 70 

percent share by sales volume. 
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 to 4.00 billion pounds, 4 percent above the March 2020 

level and 22 percent above the short February level. Broiler 

slaughter similarly rose to 831 million head, 2 percent above 

the March 2020 level and 23 percent over the previous month. 

Broiler eggs set rose 12 percent in March to 1059 million, up 2

percent from 2020. Broiler chicks placed rose 11 percent 

monthly to 824 million, down 2 percent yearly. The most 

recent 4-period average of weekly data through May 1st has 

broiler chicks placed up 2 percent. 

Total stocks of chicken in cold storage at the end of February 

fell 6 percent monthly to 769 million pounds, at its lowest level 

since March of 2017 and down 17 percent from 2020. As 

shown in the figure, total chicken in cold storage is well below 

its 3-year average. Stocks of whole broilers fell 15 percent 

monthly and were down 39 percent yearly. Among parts with 

year-over-year increasing stocks, legs and bone-in thighs in 

cold storage were up yearly by 16 percent and 68 percent 

respectively. Among parts with year-over-year decreasing 

stocks, drums, leg boneless thighs, and wings were down 16 

percent, 44 percent, 44, and 22 percent yearly. Breast stocks 

were down 7 percent monthly and unchanged from the 2020 

level.

Price

Chicken prices saw significant price gains across all whole bird 

and parts categories in April. The National Composite Whole

Body broiler price rose 17 percent in April to $1.02 per pound, 

up 90 percent from the 2020 level. As shown in the attached 

Table, the boneless, skinless breast price was rose sharply, 

gaining 22 percent monthly to $1.72 and up 89 percent yearly. 

The bone-in breast price rose 7 percent to $1.21 per pound, up 

31 percent yearly. Bone-in thigh prices rose 7 percent to $0.59

per pound, down 18 percent yearly. Tenderloin prices rose 5

percent to $1.98 per pound, up 82 percent yearly. Leg quarters 

increased 13 percent monthly to $0.43 per pound, 28 percent 

above its April 2020 level. Boneless skinless thigh prices rose 

27 percent monthly to $1.16 per pound, 22 percent below last

year's price. Drumstick prices were up 8 percent monthly at 

$0.49 per pound, up 7 percent from the April 2020 level. Wing 

prices rose 3 percent to $2.92 per pound, a new record which 

is 180 percent above the previous year’s level. 

International Trade

In volume terms, March chicken exports rose 16 percent to 300

thousand MT, down 3 percent from their 2020 level. In value 

terms, exports rose 24 percent to $320 million, up 7 percent 

yearly. In March, the top chicken export destinations were, by 

volume, Mexico (20 percent), Cuba (9 percent), Taiwan (6.3 

percent), China (5.8 percent), and Angola (5 percent). Chicken 

imports were 6 million MTs in March, up 36 percent yearly but 

down 6 percent yearly.

BEEF/VEAL

Production

March 2021 beef production totaled 2.48 billion pounds, 3

percent higher than last March 2020 and 18 percent above

February 2021. Cattle slaughter was 3.01 million head, up 3

percent year-over-year and 19 percent higher monthly. 

Average live weight gained 4 pounds yearly but lost 18 pounds

from February at 1,372 pounds. Veal production in March was 

4.9 million pounds, 4 percent above February but down 16

percent year-over-year. Calf slaughter was 31,600 head, 27

percent lower yearly and 4 percent lower monthly. The 

average live calf weighed 34 pounds more than the year before

and 19 more pounds than in February at 266 pounds.

Total beef in cold storage at the end of March lost 1 percent 

from March 2020 and 6 percent monthly. Boneless beef was 

also down 1 person yearly and was down 5 percent monthly. 

Beef cut supplies in freezers fell 12 percent from last month 

and 3 percent year-over-year. Veal inventories were 4 percent 

lower than February but up 29 percent yearly.

Price

Against the usual trend, live cattle prices (FOB, steers and 

heifers) rose steadily through April, adding $6 to total $120 per 

cwt, up 6 percent monthly and 19 percent yearly. This is shown 

in the graphs below. The beef cutout value shot up $36 to $280 

per cwt, 20 percent higher monthly and 8 percent higher

yearly. 90 percent lean boneless beef rose $6 to $238 per cwt, 

3 percent above March though down 3 percent from 2020. The 

50 percent lean trim average monthly price jumped $38 to $91, 

73 percent above last month and 25 percent more yearly. The

average price for hide-off veal carcasses increased $5 to $302

per cwt, up 2 percent from March and 3 percent from last year.

International Trade

March 2021 beef and veal exports (including variety meats) 

totaled 125 thousand MT, up 8 percent yearly and 21 percent 

monthly. The export value rose 14 percent from last year and 

20 percent from last month at $802 million. South Korea and

Japan each received nearly one-quarter of U.S. beef exports

with China, Mexico and Canada receiving about 10 percent

each. Year-over-year beef import volumes for March fell 8

percent to 99 thousand MT but added 1 percent in value to

$464 million. Monthly import volume added 37 percent and 

value gained 34 percent. Canada imported 26 percent of the 

beef trade (27 percent of the value) to the U.S. with Mexico

importing 23 percent of volume (22 percent of value).

Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil were the next largest 

sources of beef imports to the U.S.
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

Pork production in March was 2.55 billion pounds, up 13

percent monthly but down 1 percent yearly. Total hogs 

slaughtered was 11.7 million head, 2 percent lower than 2020

but 13 percent above February. Average live hog weight held 

steady month-over-month at 291 pounds and added 3 pounds

yearly. 

All pork in cold storage in March was down 7 percent from

February and down 27 percent from 2020. Monthly total ham 

storage was 34 percent lower, and for the year, down 31

percent. Bone-in ham supplies fell 48 percent monthly and 33

percent yearly, while boneless hams shed 27 percent monthly

and 31 percent yearly. Belly inventories slipped 6 percent 

month-over-month and dropped 55 percent compared to 

March 2020. Total loin stocks added 3 percent to February

volume and 2 percent year-over-year. Pork trimmings in 

freezers were down 3 percent monthly and 33 percent yearly.

Price

As seen in the graphs section, the April negotiated carcass price 

for barrows and gilts added $15 to $104 per cwt, 18 percent

higher monthly and up 167 percent yearly. The pork cutout 

value gained $9 to $111 per cwt, for a monthly rise of 9 percent

and up 70 percent for the year. Boneless center cut loin prices,

again crept up $1 to $118 per cwt, or 1 percent, but declined 2 

percent from last April. Trimmed, selected ham prices (23-27 

pounds) continued to rise, adding $4 to total $74 per cwt, 5

percent above March and up 34 percent yearly. The 72 percent 

lean pork trimmings price gained $32 to average $118 per cwt,

37 percent higher monthly and 70 percent higher year-overyear. Picnic meat combo, cushion out prices jumped $19 to 

$121 per cwt, up 19 percent monthly and 23 percent yearly. 

Pork belly primal values rose $33 in April to $178 per cwt, 23

percent above the prior month and 131 percent above the 

prior year. 

International Trade

Exports of pork were up 1 percent from March 2020 at 288

thousand metric tons, and up 27 percent in value to $767

million. Compared to February, export volume and value were

24 percent and 27 percent higher, respectively. One-quarter of 

U.S. pork exports in March went to China but only 19 percent 

of the value, while Japan took 16 percent of the volume and 24 

percent of pork export value. Mexico, Canada, and South Korea

remained in the top 5 markets. Year-over-year, March pork 

imports were up 32 percent in volume at 40 thousand MT and 

up 37 percent in value at $159 million. Compared to February 

import volume added 23 percent and value rose 22 percent. 68

of pork imports and 60 percent of the value of imports in

March came from Canada, with Italy, Poland, Mexico, and 

Denmark each sending 10 percent or less of the pork imported

to the U.S.

LAMB

Production

March lamb and mutton production was 13.9 million pounds, 

up 29 percent from February and 13 percent higher yearly. 

Sheep slaughter totaled 177,200 head, 13 percent above 2020 

and up 31 percent monthly. The average live weight fell 2

pounds from last month and 1 pound from last year at 130 

pounds. Lamb stocks in cold storage were down 33 percent 

from 2020 and down 6 percent from the month before.

Price

The April negotiated live slaughter lamb price rose $13 to $187

per cwt, 7 percent higher monthly, with no 2020 price to 

compare on a yearly basis. The lamb cutout value increased 

$13 in April to $488 per cwt, rising 3 percent monthly and 14

percent yearly. Leg of lamb, trotter-off (IMPS 233A) added $18

for an average of $453 per cwt, up 4 percent monthly and 18

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

added $1, or 1 percent, compared to the prior month at $362

per cwt, but remained up 8 percent from April 2020. Ground 

lamb (IMPS 296) added $22 to $655 per cwt, 4 percent above

March and up 14 percent from last year. 

International Trade

The U.S. lamb export volume declined in March relative to 

February by 35 percent though value was up 4 percent in value, 

to 82.3 metric tons and $620,000, respectively. Export volume 

was down 93 percent from 2020, with value down 67 percent.

The destinations for the highest volume of U.S. lamb exports 

were Canada, Mexico, and The Bahamas. Imports of lamb to 

the U.S. jumped 75 percent in March compared to February at 

13.6 thousand metric tons, while the value of imports rose 106

percent to $109 million. Year-over-year imports were 27

percent lower in volume and 11 percent lower in value. About

72 percent of lamb imports were from Australia and 26 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. 

80.0

100.0

120.0

140.0

160.0

180.0

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

cents per pound

Northeast Chicken Price - B/S Breasts

2021 2020 2017-2019 avg

-8.0%

-6.0%

-4.0%

-2.0%

0.0%

2.0%

4.0%

Annual Change in Poult Placement and Turkey 

Slaughter Poults Placed Turkey Slaughter

90.0

100.0

110.0

120.0

130.0

140.0

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

dollars per cwt

Monthly Negotiated Slaughter Cattle Prices

2021 2020 2017-2019 avg

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

100.0

120.0

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

dollars per cwt.

Monthly Negotiated Barrow/Gilt Prices

2021 2020 2017-2019 avg