49th Executive Conference Highlights Resilience and Future Outlook of Animal Protein Sector

This year’s Executive Conference held in Las Vegas from May 5–7 for senior leaders in the animal protein sector, was an informative show of the industry’s and what we can expect from the protein sector in the coming years.  

“We feed the ever-growing needs of the entire population,” said Russ Whitman, Expana’s Director of Market Reporting, in his opening remarks. 

Despite challenges related to animal health, regulatory shifts, and geopolitical tensions, the industry has demonstrated remarkable perseverance. 

ANALYSIS: Mexican Beef Export Trends in Q1 2025

The Mexican beef export market to the US showed mixed trends in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting shifts in trade dynamics. The short period of US tariff imposition on Mexico marked a turning point in market activity, leading some exporters to reduce or suspend shipments while others negotiated agreements to manage the new costs. Exchange rate fluctuations driven by macroeconomic factors initially boosted export incentives but rising domestic demand in Mexico and a stronger peso later shifted the focus to the local market. Feeder cattle exports also saw changes following the November 2024 suspension, with new inspections to monitor cattle health and import viability altering trade flows...

Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #4

Expana’s global team of specialist reporters has been tracking every twist and turn in the fluid tariff situation.

Click to read "Tariff Talks 2025: Expana's Weekly Rundown #4."

This report allows the Expana community to see where key commodity markets stand as of this past week... Click the above PDF report, or keep scrolling to read in plain text...

NCBA Statement on White House Reciprocal Tariff Announcement

Today, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane issued a statement after attending President Donald J. Trump’s reciprocal tariff announcement at the White House:

“For too long, America’s family farmers and ranchers have been mistreated by certain trading partners around the world. President Trump is taking action to address numerous trade barriers that prevent consumers overseas from enjoying high-quality, wholesome American beef. NCBA will continue engaging with the White House to ensure fair treatment for America’s cattle producers around the world...

ADM Recalls Some Pelleted Cattle Feed

ADM Animal Nutrition is recalling certain pelleted animal feed products due to harmful levels of copper or zinc, which could lead to various health issues in cattle.

These products were distributed between January 16 and February 27, 2025, and were available for purchase in Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, Iowa, Georgia, and Ohio.

All products included in this recall, except for GROFAST32 (which contained inaccurately labeled levels of zinc), had elevated levels of copper.

The recall was initiated after the issue was identified and confirmed during routine production...

ANALYSIS: New Zealand’s 2024 Total Cattle Slaughter Falls to 6-Year Lows at 2.63M Head 

New Zealand’s total livestock slaughter in 2024, covering bulls, cows, heifers, and steers, dropped to the lowest level since 2018, reaching 2.63 million head, according to official Stats NZ data.

With an annual decline of 113,823 head, kill rates slumped 4.2% year-on-year (y-o-y), driven primarily by drought-induced destocking, particularly in the South Island. A reduction in breeding cows, along with fewer calves raised since 2022 due to profitability challenges, further tightened supply...

ANALYSIS: Uruguay’s Beef Exports Kick Off 2025 with 17.4% Monthly Growth, Up 3.9% Y-o-Y

Uruguay’s beef exports surged in January 2025, reaching 31,750 MT, marking a 17.4% increase M-o-M from December 2024’s 27,038 MT and a 3.9% rise Y-o-Y from January 2024’s 30,544 MT. While the overall trend shows resilience, the composition of shipments reveals shifting market dynamics, particularly concerning China’s slowing demand and the US’s growing share.

Shipments to China, the largest buyer, totaled 12,742 MT, capturing 40.1% of Uruguay’s total exports, which represents a 12.1% M-o-M increase. However...

US Meat Trade Faces Uncertainty Ahead of Tariff Implementation

On Thursday, President Trump reaffirmed his plan to impose 25% tariffs on goods imported from Mexico and Canada, set to take effect on February 1, 2025. He is also considering an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports.

The announcement has heightened uncertainty across many industries, including the livestock and meat sectors. The tariffs threaten to significantly disrupt live cattle shipments from Mexico and Canada, both key suppliers...

Compounding these challenges, a ban on feeder cattle imports from Mexico remains in effect following...

Morocco Stops German Feed Grain Imports Over Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Morocco has halted imports of feed grains from Germany following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, the head of Morocco's grain trade federation (FNCL) said on Thursday.

The import suspension affected "all untreated plant-based feed intended for animal consumption from Germany due to the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak there," Omar Yacoubi told Reuters.

A source at Morocco's food safety agency ONSSA confirmed that plant-based imports from Germany for animal feed had been "suspended" until Germany is declared free of foot and mouth again or certifies local regions that are free of the disease...

IPPE 2025 Live: HPAI's Growing Impact Prompts Urgent Action in Pet Food Industry

At the AFIA Pet Food Conference, held alongside the IPPE event in Atlanta, Leah Wilkinson, Director of Public Policy and Education for the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), highlighted the growing threat of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which has expanded beyond poultry to affect various mammal species, including cats and dogs.

"This has traditionally been a wild bird and poultry issue," Wilkinson said. "But in the past year, we've seen HPAI move into cows, field mice, skunks, raccoons, seals, dolphins, polar bears, tigers, lions, and 

USDA Shares Enrollment of Six Additional States in Its National Milk Testing Strategy for H5N1

USDA’s National Milk Testing Strategy Now Accounts for Two-Thirds of the Nation's Dairy Herds

Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced an additional six states are enrolling in the National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS). This brings the total number of states testing under NMTS guidelines to 36 since the first round of states joined in early December.

With the enrollment of six additional states, the NMTS will account for bulk milk tank...

German Meat Imports Bans Continue Despite No New FMD Cases

Germany’s Agriculture minister Cem Oezdemir said the country had not detected any more cases since the initial outbreak on Friday. However, the source of the disease has not yet been found.  

The ministry issued a ban on the transport of all cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and camelids, as well as their bodies and body parts and their manure from or to an animal-keeping operation in the state of Brandenburg, where the outbreak happened. But the ban is due to end on January 15 at 11:59 p.m...

PODCAST: Agri-Food for Thought Ep 20 - Christmas Food Trends

In this episode, we look at the cost of commodities for Christmas Dinner 2024. Featuring special guests from the beef and cattle sector, analyzing trends in this key category as we head into the new year. 

From Jamie and Simon, thank you to all our listeners for joining us in 2024, we can't wait to show you what we have in store for 2025! 

Polish Cattle Prices Decline in mid-December 2024

Polish cattle prices fell by 2.6% month-on-month (m-o-m), reaching €5.2/kg during the week of December 11, 2024. Although Turkey is expected to be the primary growth market for Polish beef, export expansion is anticipated to extend to countries like China and Vietnam, for which Poland has recently secured veterinary approval. Despite the rise in exports, Polish cattle prices have declined in recent weeks.

The Polish dairy sector is undergoing significant restructuring, with efforts focused on building its dairy herd and phasing out less...