April 12, 2005
US beef sales could be revived in 2005
The demand for US beef for 2005 is expected to surpass that of 2004, said Ron Plain, a University of Missouri economist at the 21st annual Southwest Missouri Spring Forage Conference.
He said demand for the year could reach 70 pounds per person compared with 68 pounds in 2004, and 65 pounds in 2003.
He also said that domestic consumption is vital to the cattle industry. Though US beef exports fell by 86 percent right after a case of mad cow disease in December 2003, demand by domestic consumers continued to hold steady.
