Figure 1 shows weekly cattle slaughter by federally inspected plants since 2020. From 2020 to 2024, cattle slaughter largely remained between 600,000 and 700,000 head per week, but it has dipped to 500,000 and 600,000 head per week in 2025 and 2026. Cattle slaughter has fallen to the lowest it has been since the pandemic disrupted the...