WOOSTER, OHIO — Certified Angus Beef (CAB) reported a record-setting spring in terms of sales. Amid a difficult landscape for beef businesses, CAB said sales and supply records have been the bright spot.

“The positive numbers mean that quality beef production has not let up, and beef demand is holding,” CAB said.

Spring typically yields higher improved carcass quality, which in turn leads to the highest CAB acceptance rates during those months. This year followed that trend, with March and April yielding historically high certified carcass numbers.

Based solely on head count, the end of March produced the second largest week of certified carcasses at 134,330 head — second to a week in February 2021 at 135,758 head, with the 2021 number largely due to a pandemic-driven backlog in processing.

Overall, brand-certified carcasses are up 1% year-over-year despite fed steer and heifer harvest being down by 3.5%.

Prime carcasses are dominating, noted CAB. With genetics geared towards performance and profit and increased days-on-feed as well as heavier carcass weights, more Choice and Prime carcasses have been produced as of late.

CAB Prime carcass numbers are up 8% fiscal year-to-date, reflecting the industry trend of increased Prime production.

Overall, percent USDA Prime numbers have remained higher than Select for nine weeks — another historic data point for the beef industry. On a carcass basis, total USDA Prime carcasses are up 6.2% from 2024.

“If we make a better product, more consumers trust the product,” said John Stika, CAB president. “They buy more, and demand goes up — part of why quality will continue to resonate in our industry.”

According to the 2025 Power of Meat study, the top two meat purchasing decision factors were price per pound and quality.

“What we have learned from consumers is that when they try to determine the value proposition, what ultimately opposes price in their decision-making is quality,” says Stika. “Ninety-five percent of consumers say quality is important when they are deciding on a beef purchase.”

As grilling season is in full swing, an uptick in backyard barbecues is to be expected, equating to a bump in beef sales.

CAB’s record-setting spring boasted 116.8 million lbs sold in March, outpacing March 2022’s record of 113.8 million lbs.

Furthermore, CAB’s April sales marked an all-time high for the month, with April 2025 currently ranking as an overall Top 10 month for brand sales.

May is also on track for another strong sales month, CAB added.