American Protein Consumption Growing Again

Record-high meat prices over the last several years pushed more than a few consumers away from grocery store meat counters. That trend is beginning to reverse now, as falling prices bring buyers back and build per capita protein consumption.  A new report from Rabobank Food and Agribusiness Research and Advisory group, "Chickens, Cows, and Pigs ... Oh My!", described 2015 as a "momentous" year for the livestock industry, with the largest increase in U.S. meat consumption seen since the 1970s, at 5% per capita. Going forward, the group projected 1.2% to 1.5% average per annnum growth in U.S. meat consumption. This follows a 9% drop from 2005 through 2014. During that time, beef showed the largest decline at 18%, pork at 10% and chicken at 1.4%.