US, China battle it out for world's beef supply with Australia in box seat

Who will fill the gap as the United States' demand for beef outstrips supply next year? AFTER four years of deep drought-induced herd culling, the tipping point is just around the corner for United States beef production and big declines from next year are now forecast. How the gap between what Americans want to eat and what is available will be met is capturing the attention of the global cattle business. With China also buying every pound of beef it can find in the world right now, many believe the emerging US chasm between supply and demand can only push global beef prices further up, even with the inflationary pressures on households around the world factored in. Australia, which has one of very few herds in the world that is growing at the moment, is in the box seat. There are big threats of course - animal disease knocking on the door and a labour crisis preventing beef being processed - but there is arguably amazing opportunity for cattle producers in Australia on the ...