22.02.2011

USDA is predicting consumption of poultry will exceed consumption of red meat for the first time in the year 2018, an estimate some private economists think is conservative, according to the National Chicken Council. 

USDA shows in its “Agricultural Projections to 2020” consumption of broilers, other chicken and turkeys reaching 106.7 lbs. per capita in 2018, while consumption of beef, veal, pork, lamb and mutton totals 106.3 lbs. If accurate, the estimate would mark an increase of almost 7 lbs. per capita in poultry consumption over the estimates for 2011, while red meat consumption gains only one-half lb.
Due partly to higher feed conversion rates and a shorter production process, the poultry sector adjusts faster than red meats to higher feed costs. As a result, poultry production is projected to grow throughout the decade
Production of young chicken, ready to cook, will increase by an average of 1.65% per year from 2011 through 2020, USDA also predicts; that exports will grow from 6.65 billion lbs. this year to 6.9 billion lbs. in 2020; and that domestic consumption of broilers per capita will grow from 83 lbs. in 2011 to 91.5 lbs. in 2020.