Interregional competition and prospective shifts in the location of livestock slaughter

Abstract

<p>Future prospects of growth in livestock production and meat consumption impose new patterns of adjustment upon our livestock marketing institutions. Historically, our livestock and meat markets have adjusted to changing patterns of production. and consumption by gradually modifying, expanding or relocating existing facilities and by adopting new methods of livestock procurement and distribution.</p> <p>Sharp changes in these historical patterns of marketing and distribution may occur in future years. These changes involve the entire marketing process. Retailers, for example, are more insistent now than ever before about buying a prescribed quality of product in adequate volume and at the lowest possible price. Wholesalers and packers are seeking means of reducing short-term variability in supplies and prices through programming of procurement and slaughter activities based on improved market outlook information. Producers are adopting new production practices and methods of marketing to increase their income position and to obtain a more precise valuation of their outputs.</p>