U.S. Cattle Slaughter Totals Show Shifting Commitments in March 2026
US Cattle Slaughter
March 2026 data shows a shift in cattle supply chain
Delivered cattle down sharply from last year
Committed future cattle volumes are significantly higher
Stock video by AHAHase via Pixabay
Mar 12, 2026

U.S. Cattle Slaughter Totals Show Shifting Commitments in March 2026

The latest livestock data from the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service details national cattle slaughter figures for the current period. The report indicates a total of 70,783 head of cattle were delivered for slaughter on the report date, while the number of cattle committed for slaughter in the near term stood at 86,852 head.

Comparing these figures to prior periods shows a decline in delivered cattle from the previous week's 75,971 head and a more substantial drop from the 94,844 head recorded at the same time last year. In contrast, the volume of committed cattle rose significantly from the week-ago figure of 64,993 head and from the year-ago total of 56,952 head. The cumulative weekly totals follow a similar pattern, with delivered cattle for the week to date at 212,018 head, below both the prior week and year-ago levels, while committed cattle for the week reached 240,430 head, higher than the totals from the previous week and the same period last year.

Breaking down the domestic delivered cattle by procurement method, formula arrangements accounted for the largest portion at 42,844 head, followed by cattle with packer-chosen delivery dates at 43,766 head. Negotiated cash sales represented 9,641 head. For cattle already committed for slaughter within approximately the next week, formula arrangements again constituted the majority at 44,539 head, with a further 40,422 head involving packer-chosen delivery locations.

Geographic data shows Kansas, Nebraska, and the Texas/Oklahoma/New Mexico region were the largest sources of delivered cattle. These same regions also provided the highest volumes of committed cattle scheduled for future slaughter. A separate tally shows thousands of head are scheduled to be shipped out of their region of origin, with Nebraska, Texas/Oklahoma/New Mexico, and Kansas showing the largest outbound numbers. The report also notes limited volumes of imported cattle in both the delivered and committed categories.

  1. 1. INTRODUCTION

    Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business

    1. REPORT DESCRIPTION
    2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND THE AI PLATFORM
    3. DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
    4. GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
  2. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    A Quick Overview of Market Performance

    1. KEY FINDINGS
    2. MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional EditionPRO
  3. 3. MARKET OVERVIEW

    Understanding the Current State of The Market and its Prospects

    1. MARKET SIZE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    2. CONSUMPTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    3. MARKET FORECAST TO 2035
  4. 4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCTS FOR DIVERSIFICATION

    Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business

    1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
    2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
    3. MOST CONSUMED PRODUCTS
    4. MOST TRADED PRODUCTS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCTS FOR EXPORT
  5. 5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

    Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain

    1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
    3. TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
    4. LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES
  6. 6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

    Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Export

    1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
    3. UNSATURATED MARKETS
    4. TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
  7. 7. PRODUCTION

    The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

    1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    2. PRODUCTION BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
  8. 8. IMPORTS

    The Largest Import Supplying Countries

    1. IMPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
  9. 9. EXPORTS

    The Largest Destinations for Exports

    1. EXPORTS: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
    3. EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY: HISTORICAL DATA (2012–2025) AND FORECAST (2026–2035)
  10. 10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

    The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles

  11. 11. COUNTRY PROFILES

    The Largest Markets And Their Profiles

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    1. 11.1
      United States
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    2. 11.2
      China
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    3. 11.3
      Japan
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    4. 11.4
      Germany
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    5. 11.5
      United Kingdom
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    6. 11.6
      France
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    7. 11.7
      Brazil
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    8. 11.8
      Italy
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    9. 11.9
      Russian Federation
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    10. 11.10
      India
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    11. 11.11
      Canada
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    12. 11.12
      Australia
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    13. 11.13
      Republic of Korea
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    14. 11.14
      Spain
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    15. 11.15
      Mexico
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    16. 11.16
      Indonesia
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    17. 11.17
      Netherlands
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    18. 11.18
      Turkey
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    19. 11.19
      Saudi Arabia
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    20. 11.20
      Switzerland
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    21. 11.21
      Sweden
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    22. 11.22
      Nigeria
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    23. 11.23
      Poland
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    24. 11.24
      Belgium
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    25. 11.25
      Argentina
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    26. 11.26
      Norway
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    27. 11.27
      Austria
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    28. 11.28
      Thailand
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    29. 11.29
      United Arab Emirates
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    30. 11.30
      Colombia
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    31. 11.31
      Denmark
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    32. 11.32
      South Africa
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    33. 11.33
      Malaysia
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    34. 11.34
      Israel
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    35. 11.35
      Singapore
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    36. 11.36
      Egypt
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    37. 11.37
      Philippines
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    38. 11.38
      Finland
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    39. 11.39
      Chile
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    40. 11.40
      Ireland
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    41. 11.41
      Pakistan
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    42. 11.42
      Greece
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    43. 11.43
      Portugal
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    44. 11.44
      Kazakhstan
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    45. 11.45
      Algeria
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    46. 11.46
      Czech Republic
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    47. 11.47
      Qatar
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    48. 11.48
      Peru
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    49. 11.49
      Romania
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
    50. 11.50
      Vietnam
      • Market Size
      • Production
      • Imports
      • Exports
  12. LIST OF TABLES

    1. Key Findings In 2025
    2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    3. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    4. Per Capita Consumption, by Country, 2022–2025
    5. Production, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    6. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    7. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    8. Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    9. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    10. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    11. Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
  13. LIST OF FIGURES

    1. Market Volume, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    2. Market Value: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    3. Consumption, by Country, 2025
    4. Market Volume Forecast to 2035
    5. Market Value Forecast to 2035
    6. Market Size and Growth, By Product
    7. Average Per Capita Consumption, By Product
    8. Exports and Growth, By Product
    9. Export Prices and Growth, By Product
    10. Production Volume and Growth
    11. Exports and Growth
    12. Export Prices and Growth
    13. Market Size and Growth
    14. Per Capita Consumption
    15. Imports and Growth
    16. Import Prices
    17. Production, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    18. Production, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    19. Production, by Country, 2025
    20. Production, In Physical Terms, by Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    21. Imports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    22. Imports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    23. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
    24. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    25. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    26. Import Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    27. Exports, In Physical Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    28. Exports, In Value Terms: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    29. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2025
    30. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    31. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)
    32. Export Prices, By Country: Historical Data (2012–2025) and Forecast (2026–2035)

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