Total US per capita meat consumption on a retail weight basis grew slowly through the third quarter, but it was at the expense of red meat consumption, according to the Livestock Marketing Information Center.
Quarterly retail weight beef and pork consumption during the quarter were down marginally while chicken consumption rose, the LMIC said. Interestingly, turkey consumption was down in the quarter, but it was not enough to take total poultry consumption lower.
Data for per capita consumption on a carcass weight basis produced similar results. Beef, pork and turkey consumption were down from the year-earlier quarter while chicken consumption showed gains that took total poultry consumption higher.
BEEF CONSUMPTION OFF SLIGHTLY
Third quarter retail weight per capita beef consumption was listed at 14.3 pounds, down 0.1 pound, or 0.3%, from 14.4 pounds in the 2017 quarter. Consumption also was down 0.1 pound, or 0.3% from second-quarter consumption of 14.4 pounds.
Third-quarter retail weight beef consumption was up from 2016’s 14.0 pounds, 2015’s 13.9 pounds and 2014’s 13.7 pounds. However, it was equal to third-quarter 2013 consumption of 14.3 pounds.
On a carcass weight equivalent basis, third-quarter beef consumption totaled 20.5 pounds, down 0.1 pound, or 0.3%, from 20.6 pounds in the 2017 quarter. As with retail-weight data, third-quarter consumption also was above that of the same quarter in 2014 through 2016, the LMIC said. However, this year’s consumption was 0.1 pound above the 20.4 pound recorded in 2013.
PORK CONSUMPTION ALSO SAGS
Third-quarter retail weight and carcass weight equivalent pork consumption also sagged the LMIC said.
On a retail weight basis, pork consumption for the quarter was down 0.4% to 12.4 pounds, the LMIC said. However, consumption was above the 12.1 pounds in the 2016 and 2015 quarters, the 11.0 pounds in the 2014 quarter and the 11.4 pounds in the 2013 quarter.
On a carcass weight equivalent basis, third-quarter pork consumption was pegged at 15.9 pounds, down 0.1 pound, or 0.4%, from 16.0 pounds in the 2017 quarter. This year’s third-quarter consumption also was above 2016’s and 2015’s 15.6 pounds, 2014’s 14.2 pounds and 2013’s 14.7 pounds.
CHICKEN CONSUMPTION UP
It seems consumers substituted chicken for red meat more often in their diets during the quarter, extending a trend this year toward eating more chicken.
On a retail weight basis, per capita consumption during the third quarter totaled 23.5 pounds, up 0.3 pound, or 1.6%, from 23.2 pounds in the same quarter of 2017. This also was above consumption rates in 2013 through 2016.
Turkey consumption was down 2.1% to 3.9 pounds from 4.0 a year earlier.
CATTLE, BEEF RECAP
A total of 97 head of fed cattle sold Wednesday at the Fed Cattle Exchange video auction at an average price of $119 per cwt, up $1.17 from a week earlier.
Cash cattle traded Tuesday at $187 per cwt on a dressed basis to a regional packer in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, steady with last week.
Cash cattle traded last week late at $118 to mostly $119 per cwt on a live basis, steady to up $0.50 from the previous week. On a dressed basis, cattle traded at $187, up $3.50 to $4.
The USDA choice cutout Wednesday was down $2.21 per cwt at $212.25, while select was up $0.18 at $201.57. The choice/select spread narrowed to $10.68 from $13.07 with 114 loads of fabricated product sold into the spot market.
No delivery notices were served for Dec live cattle.