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United States Slaughter Statistics

Can you guess how many horses were slaughtered in the U.S.A. last week?
To find the answer, click here http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/WA_LS711.txt

Approximately 3,802,600 equines were slaughtered in the USA since 1980.

2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
47,219
47,134
62,244
70,977
  86,000
103,687
109,225
107,029

1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
167,310
 246,400
276,900
345,700
348,400
   331,000
  275,700
202,100

1985
1984
1983
1982
1981
1980
128,300
105,300
99,300
149,600
219,300
 274,500

Only three horse slaughter houses remain in the United States today.

The following are equine slaughter statistics, broken down by week, for the years 1994 through October 2001.

2001
Annual Federally Inspected Slaughter Horses, USDA
1,000 head
Jan 6
925
Jan 13
639
Jan 20
1319
Jan 27
1182
Feb 3
1300
Feb 10
1329
Feb 17
1178
Feb 24
1256
Mar 3
1050
Mar 10
1511
Mar 17
1476
Mar 24
1500
Mar 31
1424
Apr 7
1629
Apr 14
1343
Apr 21
1275
Apr 28
1186
May 5
1593
May 12
1242
May 19
1294
May 26
1125
Jun 2
902
Jun 9
1080
Jun 16
941
Jun 23
931
Jun 30
864
Jul 7
956
Jul 14
872
Jul 21
849
Jul 28
764
Aug 4
800
Aug 11
962
Aug 18
785
Aug 25
1124
Sep 1
1135
Sep 8
1162
Sep 15
964
Sep 22
860
Sep 29
1159
Oct 6
956
Oct 13
849
Oct 20
803
Oct 27
725
Nov 3
Nov 10
Nov 17
Nov 24
Dec 1
Dec 8
Dec 15
Dec 22
Dec 29
Total: Horses Slaughtered in 2001
47, 219


2000
Annual Federally Inspected Slaughter Horses, USDA
1,000 head
Jan 1                              
569
Jan 8
1223
Jan 15
1177
Jan 22
1114
Jan 29
1117
Feb 5
1034
Feb 12
1095
Feb 19
617
Feb 26
748
Mar 4
1003
Mar 11
975
Mar 18
883
Mar 25
810
Apr 1
838
Apr 8
861
Apr 15
899
Apr 22
1064
Apr 29
833
May 6
900
May 13
896
May 20
961
May 27
892
Jun 3
970
Jun 10
954
Jun 17
1050
Jun 24
939
Jul 1
818
Jul 8
872
Jul 15
690
Jul 22
852
Jul 29
734
Aug 5
798
Aug 12
810
Aug 19
929
Aug 26
985
Sep 2
859
Sep 9
875
Sep 16
827
Sep 23
813
Sep 30
820
Oct 7
744
Oct 14
777
Oct 21
736
Oct 28
703
Nov 4
717
Nov 11
919
Nov 18
949
Nov 25
767
Dec 2
1088
Dec 9
1151
Dec 16
1333
Dec 23
1144
Dec 30
571
Total: Horses Slaughtered in 2000
47,134


1999
Annual Federally Inspected Slaughter Horses, USDA
1,000 head
Jan 2
1143
Jan 9
878
Jan 16
1233
Jan 23
1198
Jan 30
1161
Feb 6
1252
Feb 13
1230
Feb 20
1095
Feb 27
931
Mar 6
1204
Mar 13
1091
Mar 20
1277
Mar 27
1652
Apr 3
1221
Apr 10
1183
Apr 17
1156
Apr 24
1199
May 1
1156
May 8
1369
May 15
1305
May 22
1273
May 29
1377
Jun 5
1217
Jun 12
1521
Jun 19
1265
Jun 26
1303
Jul 3
1197
Jul 10
1106
Jul 17
834
Jul 24
1053
Jul 31
1198
Aug 7
1154
Aug 14
1230
Aug 21
1269
Aug 28
1303
Sep 4
1445
Sep 11
1318
Sep 18
1322
Sep 25
1381
Oct 2
1278
Oct 9
1255
Oct 16
1293
Oct 23
1079
Oct 30
1093
Nov 6
1169
Nov 13
1333
Nov 20
1256
Nov 27
1189
Dec 4
1228
Dec 11
1237
Dec 18
1369
Dec 25
908
Total: Horses Slaughtered in 1999
62,244


1998
Annual Federally Inspected Slaughter Horses, USDA
1,000 head
Jan 3
569
Jan 10
1391
Jan 24
1579
Jan 31
1585
Feb 7
1379
Feb 14
1399
Feb 21
1367
Feb 28
1247
Mar 7
1462
Mar 14
1465
Mar 21
1543
Mar 28
1563
Apr 4
1434
Apr 11
1522
Apr 18
1317
Apr 25
1443
May 2
1458
May 9
1689
May 16
1630
May 23
1399
May 30
1407
Jun 6
1488
Jun 13
1489
Jun 20
1486
Jun 27
1412
Jul 4
1272
Jul 11
1088
Jul 18
946
Jul 25
1143
Aug 1
907
Aug 8
1208
Aug 15
1302
Aug 22
1287
Aug 29
1284
Sep 5
1376
Sep 12
1379
Sep 19
1560
Sep 26
1410
Oct 3
1491
Oct 10
1540
Oct 17
1631
Oct 24
1440
Oct 31
1377
Nov 7
1197
Nov 14
1368
Nov 21
1407
Nov 28
1198
Dec 5
1380
Dec 12
1580
Dec 19
1497
Dec 26
1139
Total: Horses Slaughtered in 1998
70,977


1997
Annual Federally Inspected Slaughter Horses, USDA
1,000 head
Jan 4
 1.3
Jan 11
2.0
Jan 18
1.7
Jan 25
1.9
Feb 1
1.8
Feb 8
1.8
Feb 15
1.8
Feb 22
1.6
Mar 1
1.5
Mar 8
1.7
Mar 15
1.8
Mar 22
1.4
Mar 29
1.7
Apr 5
1.5
Apr 12
1.7
Apr 19
1.9
Apr 26
1.6
May 3
1.8
May 10
1.8
May 17
1.8
May 24
1.7
May 31
1.6
Jun 7
1.7
Jun 14
1.8
Jun 21
1.8
Jun 28
1.5
Jul 5
1.5
Jul 12
1.3
Jul 19
1.4
Jul 26
1.3
Aug 2
1.3
Aug 9
1.4
Aug 16
1.4
Aug 23
1.5
Aug 30
1.4
Sep 6
1.4
Sep 13
1.7
Sep 20
1.7
Sep 27
1.8
Oct 4
1.7
Oct 11
1.7
Oct 18
1.8
Oct 25
1.9
Nov 1
1.8
Nov 8
2.0
Nov 15
1.9
Nov 22
1.8
Nov 29
1.6
Dec 6
1.6
Dec 13
1.9
Dec 20
1.7
Dec 27
1.3
Total: Horses Slaughtered in 1997
 86



1996
Annual Federally Inspected Slaughter Horses, USDA
1,000 head
Jan 6
1.5
Jan 13
2.0
Jan 20
2.0
Jan 27
1.9
Feb 3
1.8
Feb 10
1.8
Feb 17
2.0
Feb 24
1.9
Mar 2
1.9
Mar 9
1.8
Mar 16
1.9
Mar 23
1.9
Mar 30
1.7
Apr 6
2.2
Apr 13
2.0
Apr 20
2.0
Apr 27
2.4
May 4
2.3
May 11
2.3
May 18
2.3
May 25
2.4
Jun 1
2.6
Jun 8
2.2
Jun 15
2.0
Jun 22
2.1
Jun 29
2.0
Jul 6
1.6
Jul 13
.9
Jul 20
1.8
July 27
1.8
Aug 3
1.8
Aug 10
1.8
Aug 17
1.8
Aug 24
2.0
Aug 31
2.0
Sep 7
2.0
Sep 14
2.1
Sep 21
2.2
Sep 28
2.2
Oct 5
2.2
Oct 12
2.4
Oct 19
2.1
Oct 26
1.9
Nov 2
2.2
Nov 9
2.1
Nov 16
2.3
Nov 23
1.8
Nov 30
1.9
Dec 7
2.0
Dec 14
2.3
Dec 21
2.1
Dec 28
1.6
Total: Horses Slaughtered in 1996
103.8


1995
Annual Federally Inspected Slaughter Horses, USDA
1,000 head
Jan 7
1.7
Jan 14
2.0
Jan 21
2.0
Jan 28
2.3
Feb 4
1.8
Feb 11
2.2
Feb 18
1.8
Feb 25
2.0
Mar 4
1.9
Mar 11
2.0
Mar 18
2.2
Mar 25
2.4
Apr 1
2.0
Apr 8
2.8
Apr 15
3.1
Apr 22
2.2
Apr 29
2.3
May 6
2.1
May 13
2.4
May 20
2.2
May 27
2.4
June 3
2.1
June 10
2.3
June 17
2.2
June 24
2.1
July 1
1.9
July 8
1.7
July 15
2.0
July 22
1.7
July 29
1.7
Aug 5
1.7
Aug 12
1.9
Aug 19
2.0
Aug 26
2.1
Sept 2
2.4
Sept 9
2.0
Sept 16
2.2
Sept 23
2.5
Sept 30
2.3
Oct 7
2.4
Oct 14
2.2
Oct 21
2.4
Oct 28
2.0
Nov 4
2.1
Nov 11
1.8
Nov 18
2.0
Nov 25
1.9
Dec 2
2.0
Dec 9
2.2
Dec 16
2.1
Dec 23
2.3
Dec 30
1.4
Total: Horses Slaughtered in 1995
 109.2


1994
Annual Federally Inspected Slaughter Horses, USDA
1,000 head
Jan 08    
1.1
Jan 15
1.6
Jan 22
1.2
Jan 29  
1.3
Feb 05
2.0
Feb 12
1.7
Feb 19
2.1
Feb 26
1.8
Mar 05
1.9
Mar 12         
2.0
Mar 19      
1.9
Mar 26
2.0
Apr 02
1.8
Apr 09  
1.9
Apr 16     
2.0
Apr 23
2.0
Apr 30
2.0
May 07     
2.0
May 14    
2.2
May 21
2.1
May 28   
2.4
Jun 04
2.1
Jun 11
2.2
Jun 18
2.1
Jun 25
2.3
Jul 02
2.2
Jul 09
1.6
Jul 16                             
1.9
Jul 23
1.8
Jul 30
1.6
Aug 06   
1.9
Aug 13
1.9
Aug 20
1.9
Aug 27
2.2
Sep 03
2.6
Sep 10  
2.2
Sep 17
2.4
Sep 24
2.4
Oct 01
2.4
Oct 08
2.6
Oct 15   
2.4
Oct 22
2.3
Oct 29
2.5
Nov 05
2.3
Nov 12        
2.5
Nov 19
2.6
Nov 26
2.2
Dec 03
2.2
Dec 10
2.3
Dec 17   
2.4
Dec 24
2.4
Dec 31
1.6
Total: Horses Slaughtered in 1994
107.0


Livestock Slaughter Estimates

Data Sources:  Primary data for the commercial livestock slaughter estimates are obtained from the Weekly Livestock Slaughter Report (LS-149) questionnaires completed by inspectors from the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), USDA, which provide actual counts of animals slaughtered in Federally Inspected
(FI) plants. These counts are combined with data from State-administered Non-Federally Inspected (NFI) slaughter  plants to derive total commercial slaughter estimates.   Over 95 percent of the total U.S. slaughter for any
species is under FI.  The LS-149 forms collect number of head slaughtered daily under FI by species and class as well as head kill after condemnation and total live and dressed weights.

Slightly over 900 plants in the U.S. are operated under Federal Inspection and 2,400 plants under State inspection. Slaughter from State-inspected Talmedge-Aiken plants is included in FI totals (see Types of Plants, page 98).  To prevent duplication in reporting between NFI and FI plants and assure all FI plants are included, certificates prepared by FSIS identifying operating status are constantly monitored.

Revision Policy:  Revisions are generally the result of late or corrected data and are less than one-half of 1 percent.  Revisions for the previous month and the year-to-date totals are noted in each monthly release by an (*) or a footnote.  Final data are published in the annual summary.

Procedures and Reliability:  Individual inspectors may be contacted by telephone if the Weekly Livestock Slaughter Report questionnaire is not received by NASS in time for summarization.  This assures that all plants
slaughtering a large number of head or several species are accounted for each week.

All head kill data are tabulated on a weekly basis approximately two weeks after the kill week.  A computer edit compares each plant's data with the historical data for that plant.  The edit provides a missing reports listing
for follow-up telephone contact and imputes missing weight data.  In addition, data are checked for unusual values for species, class, head kill, and pattern of kill generally, based on each plant's past operating profile.

Usually, if no form is received by mail, data for plants slaughtering fewer than 50 total head weekly of only one species are imputed.  Imputation of live and dressed weight data may also be necessary on partially completed forms for any plant.  The imputation is also based on the data history of each respective plant and represents the recent operating characteristics until final data are tabulated.  Imputed head kill for missing plants usually is less than 1 percent of the U.S. head kill totals.  Imputation for live and dressed weight data for cattle is about 15 percent and for hogs about 10 percent.  The imputation for calves and sheep is more frequent and variable.

Head kill for FI slaughter before condemnation is for the actual days of the survey month, while head kill after condemnation and live and dressed weight data are for full weeks only.  Average live and dressed weight and dressing percentages by State are compared with the previous week as an additional check.  Fluctuations are frequently the result of plants permanently or temporarily  closing and a shift in the kind of animal reported.

FI data are summarized weekly and accumulated to a monthly total for this release, while NFI data are summarized monthly only.  These weekly totals are published by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) in Livestock, Meat, Wool Market News, Weekly Summary, and Statistics.

Livestock slaughter estimates are based on a census of operating plants, and, therefore, have no sampling error.  However, they may be subject to errors such as omissions, duplications and mistakes in reporting, recording and processing the data.  These errors are minimized through rigid quality controls in the edit and summarization process, and a careful review of all reported data for consistency and reasonableness.

Generally, no data are published if less than three plants operate for a species in a State or if one plant has 60 percent or more of the total commercial slaughter for a species.  These data are included in U.S. totals.  A
review of the reported data is made annually.


Types of Plants
There are generally four types of slaughtering plants.

(1)  Federally Inspected (FI) Plants: Plants that transport meat interstate must employ federal inspectors to assure compliance with USDA standards.  Any State whose commercial plants operate entirely under federal inspection may still have custom-exempt establishments for which NFI estimates are made.


(2)  Talmedge-Aiken (TA) Plants:  Slaughter plants in which USDA is responsible for inspection.  However, federal inspection is carried out by State employees.  These plants are considered to be federally inspected.


(3)  Non-Federally Inspected (NFI) Plants:  Plants which sell and transport only intrastate.  State inspectors assure compliance with individual State standards for these NFI plants.  Mobile slaughtering units are excluded and are
considered farm slaughter.

(4)  Custom-Exempt Plants:  Plants that do not sell meat but operate on a custom basis only are custom-exempt.  The animals and meat are not inspected, but the facilities must meet health standards.  These are considered NFI plants and head kill is included in NFI totals.


Terms and Definitions
Commercial Production:  Includes slaughter and meat production in federally inspected and other plants, but excludes animals slaughtered on farms.

Dressed Weight:  The weight of a chilled animal carcass.  Beef with kidney knob in; veal with hide off; lamb and mutton with pluck out; pork with leaf fat and kidneys out, jowls on and head off.

Dressing Percent:  Is usually expressed as a percentage yield of chilled carcass in relation to the weight of the live animal on hoof.  For example, a live hog that weighed 200 pounds on hoof and yielded a carcass weighing 140
pounds would have a dressing percentage of 70.

Food and Meat Inspection:  Includes examination, checking, or testing of a carcass and/or meat against established government standards and involves checking the facility for cleanliness, health of animals, or parts of animals and quality of the meat produced.

Live Weight:  The gross weight of a live animal when received at the slaughter plant.

Plant, Slaughter:  An establishment where animals are killed and butchered.

Red Meat:  Red meat production is the carcass weight after slaughter including beef, veal, pork, and lamb and mutton.  It is derived using the number of head times average dressed weight for FI and NFI separately.  FI head kill must be adjusted for condemnations using the factor derived from the FSIS inspection reports.

The FI meat production formula is (FI head kill) X (1 - condemnation factor) X (average dressed weight) = FI red meat production.  The condemnation factor is the number of animals condemned as a percentage of the total kill.  It has been fairly stable for the last five years; running about 1.75 head per 100 head for calves, .5 per 100 for cattle, .35 per 100 for hogs and .25 per 100 for sheep.  The NFI meat production formula is (NFI head kill) X (live weight) X (FI dressing percentage) = NFI red meat production.

Slaughter:  Killing and butchering of animals primarily for food.

Slaughter, Farm:  Animals slaughtered on farms primarily for home consumption.  Excludes custom slaughter for farmers at commercial establishments, but includes mobile slaughtering on farms.  These estimates appear only in the annual slaughter release.

Wholesome Meat Act:  Legislation that specifies that all meat produced for sale in the U.S. must be inspected; and further, meat that is transported interstate must be inspected in compliance with federal (USDA) standards.


This report was created by the USDA and has been edited to only reflect equine statistics.  For a full report to include all species, please to go the USDA p://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports//nr/livestock/pls-bban/