Total Red Meat & Poultry September 2026 total red meat and poultry stocks totaled 1.97 billion pounds, down 1.4 percent from August despite typically increasing 0.8 percent during the month, and were 1.5 percent below September 2025 levels. The decline pushed total inventories to a new five-year low for September. Total red meat stocks fell 1.1 percent versus the normal 2.7 percent seasonal increase but remained 3.3 percent above year-ago levels. Poultry inventories declined 1.6 percent, exceeding the typical 0.5 percent monthly drawdown, and were 4.9 percent below last year, also setting a new five-year September low. The report generally points to tighter protein supplies, particularly for beef and poultry, although pork inventories r...