During the same period, pork consumption also fell (4 percent). The key factor driving these trends is retail prices. For example, in May 2016, retail prices were around $1.90 per pound for broilers, $5.83 per pound for beef, and $3.78 per pound for pork. Moreover, beef prices have risen much more sharply than broiler prices over the past 10 years. Between 2006 and 2016, beef prices rose 53 percent, mostly due to tight supplies, while broiler prices rose 12 percent. Other factors that may have contributed to the shift away from beef and pork consumption include growing health concerns about red meat intake and increased availability of convenience chicken products, such as skinless, boneless breasts and ready-to-serve offerings.
But meat consumption in the U.S. is likely to undergo a noticeable shift over the next decade as production of beef and pork grows and prices decline. USDA baseline projections, which provide a longrun view of the U.S. farm sector, show that production of beef and pork will expand steadily between 2016 and 2025, driven by lower feed costs and strong meat demand domestically and abroad.
Beef production and pork production are projected to grow by 11.7 percent and 10.3 percent, respectively, during the period.
The beef with meat is shifting diets towards climate-friendly meals
As a result of the anticipated expansion in production, beef and pork prices are projected to drop 10.6 percent and 11.6 percent, respectively, over the period, driving up demand for beef and pork and reversing a multiyear decline in meat consumption in the U.S. Per capita consumption of beef is forecast to increase by 2.7 percent by 2025, outpacing growth in consumption of broilers and pork, which are projected to rise by 2.3 percent and 1.7 percent during the same period. The rise in beef and pork consumption will increase the total amount of meat consumed per person in the U.S. from 211 pounds in 2015 to nearly 219 pounds by 2025.
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The world is projected to consume 134.28 billion pounds of beef in 2018, up 2.89 billion pounds from 2017. If realized, this will be the highest beef consumption in history.
The world had never consumed over 125 billion pounds of beef until 2006.
The world has consumed over 130 billion pounds of beef twice on record (2013 & 2014).
The world first consumed over 100 billion pounds of beef in 1986.
World beef consumption has grown more than 80 billion pounds since 1960.
