Except for beef, U.S. meat production will increase in 2026. At the recent Ag Outlook Forum, USDA livestock analyst Anthony Fischer noted continuing contraction of the nation’s beef herd, even with cattle reaching higher weights.
“Exports will be up for pork and broilers, down for beef. For beef, exports are expected to decrease due to tight domestic supplies as well as reduced competitiveness in global markets due to higher prices that will temper some demand.”
Fischer added that consumer demand for all meats is expected to increase year-over-year. When it comes to the prices producers can expect for their animals.
“Fed and feeder steers are both expected to be up as firm beef demand is expected to translate into stronger demand for feedlot placement. Hogs and broilers are also up slightly. Turkey production normalizes, and demand strengthens, expecting to boost prices for turkeys, and wholesale eggs down. It’s the only protein price decreasing, but prices have fallen since the HPAI-induced spikes we saw last year.”