Animal Production Industry Profile

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, Dean Foods, Pilgrim's Pride, and Smithfield Foods.

Worldwide, animal production generates annual revenue of more than $600 billion. Brazil, China, the EU, India, and the US are the largest livestock producers. Major companies outside the US include JBS (headquartered in Brazil); Industrias Bachoco (Mexico); and Danish Crown (Denmark).

The US animal production industry includes more than 1 million farms with combined annual revenue of about $160 billion. Low growth is expected for the next two years. Customer consolidation is a key growth challenge.

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.

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.

Hog farming, poultry and egg production, and dairy ...