Livestock Industry Alive And Kicking
US - After a 30-year decline, the livestock industry in Illinois is starting to bounce back, according to a recent report from the University of Illinois.
3 September 2007
1 minute read
“The livestock industry, like the rest of agriculture, has changed drastically in the last 30 years,”
DeKalb County Farm Bureau spokeswoman Mariam Wassman
Over the last five years, the industry has stabilized, and in some cases it is on the upswing, researchers said.
Both swine and beef herds are expanding, and after years of shrinking, dairy herds also are poised to expand. The report cites an increased ability to meet consumer needs and growing consumption of protein as driving forces behind the growth.
“The livestock industry, like the rest of agriculture, has changed drastically in the last 30 years,” DeKalb County Farm Bureau spokeswoman Mariam Wassman said. “The product is leaner, and we're obviously producing a product that is appealing to consumers.”
Since the early '90s, Americans have increased their consumption of both meat and dairy products, creating a more stable demand for the industry, the report said.
Illinois is an attractive option for livestock producers because of the availability of inexpensive feed - farmers can grow their own corn or feed animals byproducts from nearby food processing or ethanol plants.
Source: Daily Chronicle
