Cattle weights have been in the news during much of 2002. The reason is simple; cattle were marketed at much heavier weights than in 2001, resulting in larger beef production than otherwise would have been the case. For example, during the first half of 2002 dressed weights for all cattle averaged 759 pounds, up 30 pounds (+4.1 percent) from the prior year. The large increase in cattle weights was the principal reason January-June beef production rose 4.1 percent above 2001's, since cattle slaughter rose just 0.2 percent. The sharp year-to-year increase in weights tends to focus the discussion on how conditions this year differ from last year. The real story, however, is the big impact weights had on beef, pork, and poultry production over the last two decades.

U.S. beef production derived from steer and heifer slaughter totaled 16.8 billion pounds in 1980. During 2001, beef produced from steers and heifers reached 22 billion pounds, an increase of 31 percent. Half of this beef production increase came about because steer and heifer slaughter swelled from 25 to 28.5 million head. But the other half came about because average steer and heifer dressed weights (weighted by the relative volume of steers and heifers slaughtered each year) rose from 671 pounds in 1980 to 773 pounds in 2001. So, cow-calf producers are producing bigger calves, and cattle feeders are feeding these larger calves to heavier weights, resulting in a big beef production increase.

The story is similar in the U.S. 425pork sector. During 1980 U.S. barrow and gilt slaughter totaled 85.7 million head, and pork production derived from barrows and gilt slaughter was 14.1 billion pounds. By 2001, barrow and gilt slaughter rose to 93.2 million head, an increase of about 9 percent. But pork production from these same barrows and gilt rose to nearly 18 billion pounds, 28 percent higher than in 1980. The difference between the modest rise in slaughter and the big pork production increase was attributable to a dramatic shift in weights. Barrow and gilt dressed weights averaged 193 pounds during 2001, an increase of over 17 percent compared to 1980's164 pound average.

Weights have also had an impact on broiler production. U.S. broiler production during 1980 totaled 11.3 billion pounds. But by 2001, broiler production exploded to 31.3 billion pounds, an astounding increase of 177 percent. Although most of the broiler production increase was attributable to rising slaughter, average broiler weights jumped from 3.9 to 5 pounds per bird. And in percentage terms, the broiler weight increase of 28 percent dwarfed the weight increases that took place in either the beef or pork sectors.

Cattle, hog and broiler weights have been increasing for decades. Better genetics, better nutrition, and improved management are all responsible, to varying degrees, for the increases. Weights are expected to keep increasing in the decade ahead as U.S. livestock producers continue to adopt new technology.