By Justin Walker
Communications Specialist
Americans are set to consume more meat than ever before in 2018.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), consumers are projected to eat 222.2 pounds of red meat and poultry, exceeding the U.S. record set back in 2004.
Domestic livestock production is projected to surpass 100 billion pounds for the first time, and experts say there is an all-time high demand for eggs. An increase is also forecast for cheese and butter.
“If you look at the items that consumers say they want more of in their diet, protein tops the list,” David Portalatin, a Houston-based food industry adviser for NPD Group, said in an interview with Bloomberg.
Americans are more often choosing protein over carbohydrates, but the average consumer might eat more than the daily recommendations of meat, eggs and dairy, negating health benefits.
Nutritional guidelines suggest consuming 5 to 6.5 ounces of protein a day for adult Americans. USDA projects that group will consume an average of 10 ounces each day in 2018.
The current market trends are quite different than they have been over the past decade. From 2007 to 2014, per-capita demand for meat and poultry decreased nine percent. While cattle and hog prices are far cheaper than peak prices in 2014, experts say it could still go up.
The recent uptick in the market has given hope to the beef industry, according to Southwest Farm Press.
Beef prices and production are pointing toward growth and stability for the industry. Growth in global beef trade has also given hope to the industry that demand will stay strong in 2018.
China lifted a 14-year ban on the import of U.S. beef in June, exporting 330 tons by September. It may seem small compared to the more than 251,000 tons of beef exported to Japan, but the Chinese trade potential is promising for ranchers.