In 2022, pig deaths prior to slaughter totaled totaled ~39.6 million killed or dying (and not slaughtered for human meat consumption).[1-7]
In 2023, pig deaths totaled ~40.3 million.[1-7]
The total death rate prior to slaughter is ~23% for each year.
Calculation, see: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LqAeiA28G9Y8h83aWrF18UacVZNZ6KsKWg6JvTB5ffw/edit#gid=0
Death loss is “an estimate of the number of weaned swine which died for any reason other than being slaughtered for human consumption.” And “Pig Crop” does not include unweaned pigs that die. [NASS (2020) Hogs and Pigs: What is Included in NASS Estimates. https://www.nass.usda.gov/Education_and_Outreach/Understanding_Statistics/Hogs-and-Pigs-Inclusions.pdf]
Estimate of 15% for pre-weaned mortality comes from a variety of sources, see footnotes 4-7.
PigCHAMP Knowledge Software, Benchmarking Summaries (USA 2023) https://www.pigchamp.com/benchmarking/benchmarking-summaries [15.15% average of 4 quarters.]
Magalhães, E. et al., (2022) Whole-herd risk factors associated with wean-to-finish mortality under the conditions of a Midwestern USA swine production system. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 198, 105545–105545, table 8. [Pre-wean mortality rates ranging from 10.8% – 18.0% in 1,300 pig cohorts on Midwest farms.] https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105545
Holen, J. et al., (2020). Effects of supplementing late-gestation sow diets with zinc on preweaning mortality of pigs under commercial rearing conditions. Translational Animal Science, 4:519-530, p. 520. [“Commercial swine farms commonly experience preweaning mortality rates between 12% to 25%.” “The overall preweaning mortality of pigs in this trial was 13.5%, which is similar to that observed in other commercial facilities…”]
Rahman, T. et al., (2023) Statistical and machine learning approaches to describe factors affecting preweaning mortality of piglets. Translational Animal Science. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txad117 [5-year study of nearly 2,000 piglet litters conducted at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center showed prewean mortality of 16.1%]
In both 2022 and 2023, about 3.8 million cattle and calves died or were killed (and not sent to slaughter for human meat consumption).[1-3]
The total death rate prior to slaughter is ~10% for each year.
USDA NASS (April 2024) Meat Animal Production, Disposition, and Income 2023 Summary, ISSN: 0748- 0318, p. 7, 9.
USDA NASS (April 2024) Livestock Slaughter 2023 Summary, ISSN: 0499-0544 p. 8. [Cattle includes dairy cows]
The death rate is calculated by dividing cattle “deaths” by the total of “deaths” plus cattle slaughtered. [2023: cattle & calves deaths (3,759,000) + cattle & calves slaughtered (33,254,800) = total 37,013,800. Death rate: 3,759,000 / 37,013,800 == 10.16%.
In 2022, about 585,000 sheep (including lambs) died or were killed, and not sent to slaughter for human meat consumption.[1-3]
In 2023, about 565,000 sheep (including lambs) died or were killed prior to being slaughtered.[1-3]
The total death rate prior to slaughter is ~20%.
USDA NASS Quick Stats, Sector: Animals & Products; Group: Livestock; Commodity: Sheep (excl. lambs) – Loss, Death Measured in head and Sheep, Lambs – Loss, Death, Measured in head, as of 9/20/24.
USDA NASS (April 2024) Livestock Slaughter 2023 Summary, ISSN: 0499-0544 p. 8.
The death rate was calculated by dividing the combined sheep and lamb “death loss” by the total of death loss plus sheep and lambs slaughtered. [2023: sheep & lamb death loss (565,000) + sheep & lambs slaughtered (2,263,800) = total 2,828,800. Rate of death: 565,000 / 2,828,800 = 19.97%]
For both 2022 and 2023, the rate of death before slaughter for all pigs, cattle, and sheep was ~21%.[1]
Calculation is based on the total number of deaths before slaughter divided by total livestock born. For pigs, the total number born accounts for pre-wean mortality (see above). For cattle and sheep, the total number born equals deaths before slaughter plus the number slaughtered (see above). In 2023, total deaths before slaughter 44,592,924 divided by total livestock born 216,149,424 == 20.63%.
Cattle includes dairy cows. The number of livestock slaughtered includes post-mortem condemnations. [USDA NASS (April 2024) Livestock Slaughter 2023 Summary, ISSN: 0499-0544, p. 66]