(NAFB.com) – The USDA’s May Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook calls for tighter anticipated supplies of beef cattle after the U.S. banned cattle imports from Mexico. Tighter supplies will reduce beef production in 2026 to 25.14 billion pounds. Also, the 2025 milk production forecasts have increased to 227.3 billion pounds. Wholesale dairy and milk prices are also revised upward, with the all-milk price forecast increased to $21.60 a hundredweight. U.S. pork production in 2026 is forecast at 28.4 billion pounds, up 1.3 percent from the expected 2025 production. In poultry, May broiler production for 2025 is adjusted lower from last month, but annual growth of one percent is expected in both 2025 and 2026. Projected broiler exports in 2025 are adjusted higher and expected to rebound in 2026, but remain below pre-2022 levels. In the lamb/sheep sector, actual production of lamb and mutton was higher than last month’s forecast, but imports were lower.
