Agriculture Livestock Production

The US agriculture livestock production industry includes more than 1 million farms with combined annual revenue of about $125 billion. Major companies include Cargill, Smithfield Foods, Pilgrim's Pride, Tyson Foods, and Dean Foods. Hog farming, poultry and egg production, and dairy operations are all concentrated industries: the top 10 percent of companies in each of these three industries holds 90 percent or more of the total market. Cattle ranching and feedlot operations are much more fragmented, with the top 10 percent of companies controlling only 30 percent of the market.

This industry includes feedlot farms that prepare livestock for slaughter. Fish farming, which is included in the industry, is covered in the Aquaculture profile. The agriculture livestock production agency doesn't include slaughter, processing, or packing operations. Meat processing is covered in the Meat Products Manufacture profile.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

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. The industry is labor-intensive: average annual revenue per worker for all US livestock and poultry farmers is $100,000.

PRODUCTS, OPERATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Major products are live cattle and beef (40 percent of industry revenue); dairy products (30 percent); chicken (15 percent); and live hogs ...