Livestock Slaughter and Carcass Yield Calculator
Calculate carcass weight, dressing percentage, and retail cut yield from live animal weight for cattle, hogs, sheep, and goats.
Dressing Percentage Dressing percentage = (Hot carcass weight / Live weight) x 100. It represents how much of the live animal becomes carcass after removing hide, head, feet, and organs. Typical values: beef 60-63%, hogs 70-74%, sheep 48-52%, goats 46-50%.
From Carcass to Retail Cuts Not all carcass weight becomes retail cuts. Bones, fat trim, and processing waste reduce the final yield. Retail yield from carcass weight: beef 60-65%, pork 65-75%, lamb 55-65%.
Cutout Value Total retail value = Retail pounds x average price per pound. Beef retail cuts average $6-12/lb blended. Knowing your yield helps compare home butchering vs commercial processing costs.
Factors Affecting Yield Body condition score, breed, sex, and feed type all affect dressing percentage. Grass-finished cattle typically dress 58-61%, grain-finished 62-65% due to more internal fat.