USDA forecasts for animal protein production in 2018 show across-the-board increases. Total poultry production is expected to increase to 49 billion pounds, or 1.9 percent above the 2017 forecast. Total red meat production in 2018 is forecast at 54 billion pounds, 2.8 percent more than expected this year. Total egg production is expected to increase by 1.8 percent, according to USDA’s Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook report, which is available here.
The broiler industry has continued to see weak growth in bird weights, but production growth is expected to continue into 2018 on stable producer margins. Growth in egg production is expected to continue, but at a slightly reduced pace in 2018, in part due to weak producer margins in the past year. Broiler production for 2018 is forecast at nearly 42.3 billion pounds, an expected increase of about 2 percent above 2017. Exports are forecast a bit above 7 billion pounds, up only marginally above 2017, due in part to uncertain conditions for economic growth in important export markets. Whole broiler prices (national composite) are forecast at 85-92 cents per pound in 2018, down about 1 percent compared to the 2017 forecast.
