Pilgrim's Pride underestimated U.S. meat supplies, hurting earnings

Feb 16, 2023

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp, one of the biggest U.S. chicken companies, underestimated meat production at the end of last year, Chief Executive Fabio Sandri said on Thursday after the company reported a surprise quarterly loss.

The company, owned mostly by meatpacker JBS SA, joined rival Tyson Foods Inc in misjudging that lower beef and pork supplies would increase demand for chicken as consumers grapple with high inflation.

Pilgrim’s shares still rose by 5% as the company said it expects beef supplies to shrink later this year and is now seeing some consumers switching to chicken.

Executives expected total meat supplies to tighten toward the end of 2022 because U.S. ranchers slashed the size of the cow herd while avian flu wiped out millions of turkeys, Sandri told analysts on a call.

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Video: PRRS Eradication Strategies - Dr. DeBuse and Dr. Tousignant

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show, Dr. Neil DeBuse from Kalmbach Feeds and Dr. Steve Tousignant from Vaxxinova US discuss PRRS management strategies, recombination risks, whole genome sequencing, and the role of autogenous immunization programs in swine systems. They highlight practical approaches to improving immunity, reducing outbreaks, and advancing PRRS control across production systems. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Being PRRS negative sooner is a real key for eradication because every additional positive week increases production losses and viral exposure risks." - Dr. Neil DeBuse

Meet the guest: Dr. Neil DeBuse is a veterinarian at Kalmbach Feeds with more than 30 years of experience in swine health and production. His work focuses on PRRS control, biosecurity, immunity, and improving production stability across commercial swine systems in the United States and internationally.

Dr. Steve Tousignant is Director of the Swine Business Unit and Technical Services Veterinarian at Vaxxinova US, with a DVM and PhD from the University of Minnesota. His experience combines epidemiology, technical services, and practical immunization strategies designed to support consistent herd performance and long-term production stability. Don’t miss the chance to be part of the Swine Inner Circle!