In a new report, the economists working for the United
States Department of Agriculture predict domestic and global demand for meats
and dairy products will remain strong for the coming decade.
But the beef industry will be squeezed by feed costs
rising faster than market prices.
For pork, there will be a similar cost-price squeeze
for the next few years, then that ratio will flatten out.
The chicken industry is likely to face a “relatively
stable feed-price ratio,” the economists predict.
Despite the lower expected returns, red meat and
poultry production all increase over the projection period.
