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This article is about Beef Prices in general. For the specific commodities, see the articles on Live Cattle Prices and Feeder Cattle Prices. In 2007, the retail value of all US produced beef was $74 billion.[1] Beef prices depend in part on the availability and pricing of cattle feed. For instance, heavy droughts often result in the reduction of available hay stocks, so prices drop slightly as more cattle are slaughtered and sent to market. However, this reduces breeding stock, subsequently reducing supply and raising prices in the long term.[2] Reliance on corn cattle feed (especially distiller's dry grain--see DDG under Ethanol Production) also makes beef prices susceptible to significant changes in corn prices.[3]
[edit] PricesLive Cattle Futures with a February, 2009 delivery date. Please note, prices are in US Dollars per 100 pounds. Feeder Cattle futures with a January, 2009 delivery date. Please note, prices are in US Dollars per 100 pounds. [edit] Who benefits from higher beef prices?
[edit] Who benefits from lower beef prices?
[edit] Trends and Forces[edit] Increase in Feedstuff Prices Increases the Price of BeefBeef Prices are heavily dependent on favorable pricing of feedstuffs, such as corn prices and soybeans, as food makes up the majority of the cost of raising livestock. Corn prices have risen sharply since the beginning of 2007 - more than 60% in 2007 and early 2008 - as ethanol producers have increased their demand for the commodity (rising oil prices, in turn, have increased demand for ethanol).[10] Corn is also the main input for many other food products such as high fructose corn syrup that are in increasing worldwide demand - but nonetheless the USDA expects U.S. farmers to plant 8% less corn in 2008, lowering supply and increasing prices.[11] Any long-term, significant increase in feedstuffs prices has the potential to seriously increase beef prices. [edit] Rising Global Demand Pushes Up Beef PricesIn 2007, beef consumption rose at an annual rate of 5% in developing countries.[12] From 1990 to 2007, per capita consumption of meat doubled in China - 1.3 billion people ate twice as much meat as they did before.[13] As global demand increases, prices are pushed up and meat becomes more expensive. [edit] Cattle Supply is Dependent on Weather ConditionsFarmers depend on forage - grass and wheat - to feed cows during the summer and fall. During droughts, not enough forage grows to feed the cattle and farmers are forced to dip into their winter hay reserves to feed their herds. In order to make sure they have enough hay for the winter, farmers send surplus cattle to market, increasing supply in the short term, but reducing breeding stock and decreasing supply in the long term. [edit] Import Bans Decrease Supply and Increase PricesWhen health scares, such as cases of mad cow disease, cause the United States to ban cattle imports from other countries, US supply shrinks and beef prices increase. For example, the 2003 ban of Canadian cattle imports decreased US supply by 8% and contributed to a 30% rise in cattle prices.[14] [edit] Beef Industry Market ShareTyson Foods (TSN) is the largest US producer of beef with 25% of the US market. Cargill Meat Solutions is the second largest US beef producer with 21% of the US market. Swift Foods, which is owned by Brazilian meat producer JBS S.A. (SAO:JBSS3), is the third largest US beef producer with 18.5% of the US market. National Beef is the fourth largest US beef producer with 10.5% of the US market.  Note: Market share data from NWA Online [edit] References
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