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Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry
Outlook provides monthly analysis of current developments
in the livestock and poultry industry, providing data
on animal numbers, meat and egg production, prices, trade,
and net returns. Beef is a featured commodity in February,
May, August, and November.
Global Market Opportunities Drive Beef Production Decisions in Argentina and Uruguay describes traceability programs in these countries designed to help mitigate animal disease outbreaks, like foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). Keeping their herds free of FMD and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a major concern. Improved traceability programs, pasture-based production systems, and long-standing bans against feeding antibiotics and other growth promotants, as well as against feeding meat and bone meal to cattle, help both countries manage and mitigate disease outbreaks and meet the health and sanitary standards of international customers. For the full report, see Beef Production, Markets and Trade in Argentina and Uruguay: An Overview.
Products
Markets in 2005 and Forecasts for 2006 looks at how
uncertainty continues to shape the forecasts for animal
products markets and trade in 2006. Potential and actual
animal disease outbreaks, consumer sensitivities, volatile
exchange rates, and growing competition from producers
in other countries cloud U.S. trade prospects for major
meats.
Economic
Effects of Animal Diseases Linked to Trade Dependency
highlights the importance of livestock and poultry trade
to producers and consumers around the world. Though global
meat trade has not fallen in response to animal disease
outbreaks, a few countries have seen significant changes
to their exports and imports. For more information, see
Disease-Related
Trade Restrictions Shaped Animal Product Markets in 2004
and Stamp Imprints on 2005 Forecasts, Brazil
Emerges as Major Force in Global Meat Markets, and
An Economic
Chronology of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy in the
United States.
Factors
Affecting U.S. Beef Consumption reports that beef
is a highly consumed meat in the United States, averaging
67 pounds per person per year. In the late 1990s, annual
beef consumption per person was highest in the Midwest,
followed by the South and West. Rural consumers ate more
beef than did urban and suburban consumers.
Did the
Mandatory Requirement Aid the Market? Impact of the Livestock
Mandatory Reporting Act compares the mandatory price
reporting system developed by USDA's Agricultural Marketing
Service in 2001 with the previous voluntary reporting
system. The trend toward formula purchases has slowed
since mandatory price reporting was implemented, and market
forces have likely contributed to an increase in the volume
of cattle moving under negotiated purchases.
Market Integration
of the North American Animal Products Complex examines
the economic integration of the beef, pork, and poultry
industries of Mexico, Canada, and the United States over
the past two decades. Sanitary barriers, which are designed
to protect people and animals from diseases, are some
of the most significant barriers to fuller integration
of meat and animal markets. For more information on integration,
see North
America Moves Toward One Market.
U.S. 2003
and 2004 Livestock and Poultry Trade Influenced by Animal
Disease and Trade Restrictions discusses how animal
diseases and disease-related trade restrictions have influenced
trade in animal products in the past few years, with an
emphasis on 2003 and forecasts for 2004. Disease outbreaks
and related trade restrictions have slowed previously
expected high growth in many U.S. animal product exports,
with U.S. beef exports most affected.
Live
Cattle Exports from Mexico into the United States
highlights research on the origins and destinations of
Mexican cattle imported into the United States. Recent
animal disease outbreaks, food safety issues, and the
possibility of agricultural terrorism raise concerns about
the need for information on movements of agricultural
products into and within the United States. Livestock
and meat are of special concern, given the potential human
health and economic impacts of diseases.
Beef and
Pork Values and Prices Spreads Explained examines
how marketing costs affect livestock and meat prices in
the short and long run. Slow price adjustment explains
most of the month-to-month changes in beef and pork price
spreads.
Savvy
Buyers Spur Food Safety Innovations in Meat Processing
finds that the market incentives that motivate private
firms to invest in food safety innovation seem to be fairly
weak. Results from an ERS survey of U.S. meat and poultry
slaughter and processing plants and two case studies of
innovation in the U.S. beef industry reveal development
of a number of mechanisms to overcome that weakness and
to stimulate investment in food safety innovation. For
the full report, see Food
Safety Innovation in the United States: Evidence from
the Meat Industry.
Food
Traceability: One Ingredient in a Safe and Efficient Food
Supply describes the results of an investigation into
the amount, type, and adequacy of traceability systems
in the United States, focusing on the cattle/beef, fresh
produce, and grain sectors. The investigation finds that
these systems vary across industries as firms balance
the private costs and benefits to determine the efficient
level of traceability. For the full report, see Traceability
in the U.S. Food Supply: Economic Theory and Industry
Studies.
Country-of-Origin
Labeling: Theory and Observation examines the economic
rationale behind the various claims about the effect of
country-of-origin labeling and indicates that mandatory
country-of-origin labeling would likely generate more
costs than benefits. Voluntary country-of-origin labeling
is an option, but food suppliers have generally discounted
the U.S. label as a quality attribute that can attract
sufficient consumer interest.
International
Trade of Meat/Poultry Products and Food Safety Issues
uses case studies to evaluate the international trade
implications of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE
or mad cow disease), foodborne pathogens (e.g., salmonella),
and certain production practices (e.g., drug use for growth
promotion) in exporting countries.
Many factors determine the Structure
of the Global Markets for Meat, including the relative
availability of resources for raising and processing animals
for meat. Preferences for various cuts of meat among countries
provide opportunities for international trade.
Interstate
Livestock Movements analyzes livestock marketing patterns.
As part of the overall meat production system, livestock
movements affect profits for livestock owners, what consumers
pay at the supermarket and restaurant, and potential for
spread of animal diseases.
Manure Management for
Water Quality evaluates the costs of spreading manure
on cropland at the farm, regional, and national levels.
EPA regulations enacted in February 2003 require concentrated
animal feeding operations (generally the largest producers
of hogs, chicken, dairy, and beef cattle) to meet nutrient
application standards when spreading their manure on cropland
in order to preserve water resources from nitrogen and
phosphorus runoff. USDA is encouraging all animal feeding
operations to do the same. If all operations meet the
new standards, increases in production costs could be
felt throughout the food and agricultural system.
Where's
the Beef? Small Farms Produce Most Cattle examines
the characteristics of small cattle farms. Small operations
produce the majority of beef cattle in the United States,
and control 74 percent of land dedicated to beef cattle
production. Differences among these small operations and
with large ones have implications for farm policy.
Controversies
in Livestock Pricing discusses the effect on producer
prices resulting from changes in industry structure and
pricing methods.
U.S. Beef Industry: Cattle
Cycles, Prices Spreads, and Packer Concentration explains
the trends and dynamics of the cattle cycle and price
spreads in the 1990's and examines the effect of meatpacking
industry concentration.
Decline
in Cattle Inventory to Continue discusses the current
decline in cattle inventory as it relates to the cattle
cycle and the recent drought.
Heifer
Liquidation Continues to Support Beef Production Gains
discusses beef production and prices as well as forecasts
through 2000.
Consolidation
in Meatpacking: Causes and Concerns details the reasons
behind U.S. meatpacker concentration, along with outcomes
and potential economic concerns.
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