Global Meat Supply Faces Growing Pressure as Cattle Herds Shrink

Beef prices are rising sharply in China, cattle farmers in the United States are struggling with higher costs, and poultry producers in India are cutting production as pressures across the global meat industry intensify.

More than 90 percent of the world’s population consumes meat in some form, making developments in livestock and poultry production important for food prices and household diets worldwide. Rising input costs, drought, biological production cycles and trade restrictions are combining to put pressure on meat supplies.

At the center of the problem is a supply chain that depends on resources and time. Cattle require years to reach slaughter weight, while poultry depends heavily on feed made from globally traded grains and soybeans. Farmers also need adequate land, water and favorable weather conditions to maintain their animals.

When one part of the system is disrupted, the effects can spread throughout the wider food market.