Companies in this industry raise or fatten animals for the purpose of selling animals or animal products. Major companies include Agri Beef, Dairy Farmers of America, Pilgrim's, and Smithfield Foods (all based in the US), as well as Bachoco (Mexico), Ingham's (Australia), JBS Foods (Brazil), and WH Group (Hong Kong).
Worldwide, meat production totals about 300 million tons. India, Brazil, and China are the largest livestock producers, according to the US Department of Agriculture as reported by Beef2Live. Global dairy production from cows is more than 550 million tons, according to Statista. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, India, the US, China, Pakistan, and Brazil are major producers.
The US animal production industry includes more than 2 million farms with combined annual revenue of about $152 billion.
The animal production industry includes feedlot farms that prepare livestock for slaughter but does not include slaughter, processing, or packing operations. The industry includes farms and ranches that earn the majority of their income from raising livestock. A cattle ranch, for example, may compete with farms that raise cattle but get most of their income from crops.
Demand for meat, poultry, and dairy products is driven by domestic food consumption trends. The profitability of individual farms depends on efficient operations. Large companies have advantages in vertically integrated operations and economies of scale. Small operations can compete effectively by supplying local markets, specializing in heritage breeds, or raising humanely treated or hormone-free animals.
Major products are live cattle and calves (40% of industry revenue); poultry and eggs (25%); dairy products (20%); and live hogs and pigs (10%). Other
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Glossary of Acronyms