The U.S. cattle and beef markets continue
to be impacted by the December 2003 and June 2005 announcements
of confirmed positive tests for bovine spongiform encephalopathy
(BSE, or "mad cow" disease) in the United States.
Discovery of the disease in the United States has focused
attention on beef and cattle markets and on U.S. government
actions. These cases have also underscored the importance
of reliable information and analysis. USDA is providing updates
on related developments, including enhanced testing, measures
taken by the government to prevent the spread of BSE, and
information on technical aspects. ERS monitors and analyzes
cattle markets, the beef industry, food safety, and trade,
providing background information and research for perspective
on recent events.
ERS Market Information and Analysis
- Beef and cattle industry background
data on production, prices, and trade are assembled on a single
web page for use by journalists and others looking for perspective
on the markets.
- The monthly newsletter Livestock,
Dairy, and Poultry Outlook contains current market situation
and outlook for the cattle industry. The January 2004 issue covers
the market impact of the discovery of BSE in the United States.
The June-August 2003 issues include analyses accounting for the
discovery of BSE in Canada.
- Cattle Briefing Room covers
conditions and events that influence supply, demand, trade, and
prices in domestic and global cattle and beef markets.
Other Topical Resources
Each contains a compilation of analyses by ERS economists
on the topic, and provides links to reports, articles, monographs,
and data:
Policy, Economics, and Food Safety
Global Markets
Recent ERS Reports on Related Issues
- Food
Traceability: One Ingredient in a Safe and Efficient Food Supply describes the results of an investigation into the amount, type,
and adequacy of traceability systems in the United States, focusing
on the cattle/beef, fresh produce, and grain sectors. The investigation
finds that these systems vary across industries as firms balance
the private costs and benefits to determine the efficient level
of traceability. For the full report, see Traceability
in the U.S. Food Supply: Economic Theory and Industry Studies.
- Country-of-Origin
Labeling: Theory and Observation examines the economic rationale
behind the various claims about the effect of country-of-origin
labeling and indicates that mandatory country-of-origin labeling
would likely generate more costs than benefits. Voluntary country-of-origin
labeling is an option, but food suppliers have generally discounted
the U.S. label as a quality attribute that can attract sufficient
consumer interest.
-
Savvy
Buyers Spur Food Safety Innovations in Meat Processing finds
that the market incentives that motivate private firms to invest
in food safety innovation seem to be fairly weak. Results from
an ERS survey of U.S. meat and poultry slaughter and processing
plants and two case studies of innovation in the U.S. beef industry
reveal development of a number of mechanisms to overcome that
weakness and to stimulate investment in food safety innovation.
For the full report, see Food
Safety Innovation in the United States: Evidence from the Meat
Industry.
- International Trade and Food
Safety: Economic Theory and Case Studies examines the relationships
between food safety and international trade and analyzes examples
from the meat and poultry, produce, food and animal feed crop,
and seafood sectors.
- Food
Safety and Trade: Regulation, Risks, and Reconciliation provides
context for navigating differences in food safety regulations
and standards among countries while maintaining food safety and
trade volumes.
- Differences
in Demand Help Shape Meat Trade looks at demand for meat across
countries and identifies consumer preferences that influence which
meat cuts are traded and where. These preferences, rather than
production competitiveness, seem to influence meat trade. A longer
report, Structure of the Global
Markets for Meat, provides further information.
- Interstate Livestock
Movements data product provides a current national picture
of interstate movements of cattle, hogs, and sheep. A better understanding
of livestock shipping patterns helps in characterizing the livestock
sectors, estimating the economic effects of major disease outbreak,
and assessing marketing issues.
- Weighing
Incentives for Food Safety in Meat and Poultry examines market
mechanisms such as increased product branding and stricter requirements
by large buyers. These, measures, along with Federal regulations
requiring preventative controls and bacterial testing, are addressing
food safety issues.
- Dissecting
the Challenges of Mad Cow and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (pdf)
summarizes differences and similarities between "mad cow"
disease and foot-and-mouth disease and presents some of the estimated
economic impacts and implications. Simultaneous presence of the
two diseases in the U.K. caused confusion among consumers worldwide
about these diseases and their interrelationships.
Information and Updates from USDA
The USDA
website provides a portal to Administration
statements and policies, updates on BSE developments,
background information, and other resources.
Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) covers
the current BSE situation, technical information, existing
trade initiatives, and proposed new rules governing
cattle shipments. BSE
trade ban status provides details on international
trade responses to the discovery of BSE in the United
States.
Food
Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has links to the
latest news on BSE, technical briefings, risk assessment reports,
and other government resources.
Foreign
Agricultural Service links to information on the
effects of BSE on trade, including foreign government
and organization sites, and contains special reports,
regulations, and announcements. See also FAS's links
to country
pages for analysis of cattle and beef by country.
Foodborne
Illness Education Information Center combines efforts
of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and FSIS and
provides information from government and nongovernment
sources on BSE and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
(vCJD). |
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