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Briefing Rooms

Cattle: Recommended Readings

Contents
 

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 IssuesPDF file 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 CattlePDF file 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 PricingPDF file 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 ContinuePDF file 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 GainsPDF file discusses beef production and prices as well as forecasts through 2000.

Consolidation in Meatpacking: Causes and ConcernsPDF file details the reasons behind U.S. meatpacker concentration, along with outcomes and potential economic concerns.

For more information, contact: Kenneth Mathews

Web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov

Updated date: April 15, 2008