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Cattle & Hog Wholesaling in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Dmitry Diment Dmitry Diment New York, United States Last Updated: April 2024 NAICS 42452

Revenue

$10.9bn

2024

$10.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

5,516

Businesses

1,121

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Cattle & Hog Wholesaling in the US industry analysis

Cattle and hog wholesaling has experienced moderate growth, with revenue expanding at a CAGR of 2.6% to $11.0 billion over the five years to 2024, despite a slight decline of 1.7% in 2024 alone. The industry has been largely influenced by the rising prices of feed, which has led to cost-push inflation. This has resulted in an increase in the cost of production for cattle and hog farmers, subsequently leading to an increase in the wholesale prices of these commodities. Additionally, strong downstream demand for beef and pork has led to high culling rates and tight supply, further driving up the prices because of demand-pull inflation. This has resulted in a steady growth in revenue at the wholesaling level during this period.

Trends and Insights

  • Cattle and hog wholesalers have experienced moderate growth due to rising feed costs and strong downstream demand for beef and pork. Despite increased production costs, wholesalers have managed to maintain profitability by passing on these costs to the downstream markets and commanding higher prices due to tight supply.
  • The livestock industry is undergoing significant changes due to technological advancements and increased consumer awareness around animal welfare. Technology like predictive modeling and tracking systems are increasing efficiency and reducing costs.
  • The Plains, Southwest and Southeast regions are prime locations for livestock wholesaling due to their favorable climates, abundant land and strong local demand. These factors aid in large-scale livestock farming, ensuring healthy livestock growth and a robust wholesaling industry.
  • The cattle and hog wholesaling industry presents significant barriers to entry, such as stringent legal regulations, high start-up and ongoing costs and the challenge of product differentiation. These factors can make it difficult for new businesses to establish themselves and compete effectively.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $10.9bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Rising inflation stirs the pot for cattle and hog wholesalers

  • A combination of demand-pull and cost-push inflation has been impacting the industry. High demand and limited supply are pushing prices up, creating a demand-pull inflation scenario.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Cattle & Hog Wholesaling in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Shifting dietary preferences impacting red meat consumption

  • Despite being a staple in the American diet, per capita beef consumption is expected to continue falling over the coming years. This is largely due to changing dietary habits, with many consumers seeking healthier, leaner proteins.

Biggest companies in the Cattle & Hog Wholesaling in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Smithfield Foods Inc.
2,861.9
157.8
5.5

To view the market share and analysis for all 1 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Cattle & Hog Wholesaling in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Cattle (except cows), Cows and Hogs. Cattle (except cows) is the largest segment of the Cattle & Hog Wholesaling in the US.

Trends and Insights

Cattle (except cows) sales dominate despite climate and consumer shifts

  • Cattle (except for cows) denotes heifers, steers, bulls and calves. These bovine species lead agricultural landscapes, contributing significantly towards meat and dairy supplies, while playing a pivotal role in the ecosystem.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Establishments in this industry primarily wholesale livestock. Cattle, swine, sheep and goats are included, but horses and mules are excluded. Wholesalers may purchase livestock from feedlots, breeders or other ranchers and then sell to slaughterhouses, other feedlots and breeders and livestock buyers.

What's included in this industry?

Wholesaling cattleWholesaling swineWholesaling sheep Wholesaling goats

Companies

Smithfield Foods Inc.

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Related Terms

ESTRUS SYNCHRONIZATIONBOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHYBIO-SECURITY

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 42452 - Cattle & Hog Wholesaling in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Cattle and hog wholesalers have experienced moderate growth due to rising feed costs and strong downstream demand for beef and pork. Despite increased production costs, whole...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

The livestock industry is undergoing significant changes due to technological advancements and increased consumer awareness around animal welfare. Technology like predictive ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The Plains, Southwest and Southeast regions are prime locations for livestock wholesaling due to their favorable climates, abundant land and strong local demand. These factor...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The cattle and hog wholesaling industry presents significant barriers to entry, such as stringent legal regulations, high start-up and ongoing costs and the challenge of produ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Due to its decentralized nature, the cattle and hog wholesaling industry lacks a dominant player. This is largely because the industry is made up of numerous small and medium...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Smithfield Foods Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Smithfield Foods Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Cattle and hog wholesalers are significantly affected by factors such as the price of red meat, per capita beef and pork consumption and the healthy eating index. These varia...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Larger players industry may have greater total costs, but tend to register higher profit using a low-margin/high-volume strategy. These establishments benefit from buying and...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Cattle & Hog Wholesaling in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Cattle & Hog Wholesaling in the US industry in United States is $10.9bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Cattle & Hog Wholesaling in the US industry in 2024?

There are 1,121 businesses in the Cattle & Hog Wholesaling in the US industry in United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Cattle & Hog Wholesaling in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Cattle & Hog Wholesaling in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 2.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Cattle & Hog Wholesaling in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Cattle & Hog Wholesaling in the US industry in United States is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Cattle & Hog Wholesaling in the US market in United States?

The biggest company operating in the Cattle & Hog Wholesaling market in United States is Smithfield Foods Inc.

What does the Cattle & Hog Wholesaling in the US in United States include?

Wholesaling cattle and Wholesaling swine are part of the Cattle & Hog Wholesaling in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Cattle & Hog Wholesaling in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Smithfield Foods Inc..

How competitive is the Cattle & Hog Wholesaling in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is low and increasing in the Cattle & Hog Wholesaling in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Egg & Poultry Wholesaling in the US
  • Fish & Seafood Wholesaling in the US

Complementors

  • Meat, Beef & Poultry Processing in the US
  • Beef & Pork Wholesaling in the US

International industries

  • Hog & Pig Farming in Canada
  • Livestock and Other Agricultural Supplies Wholesaling in Australia
  • Livestock and Other Agricultural Supplies Wholesaling in New Zealand
  • Live Animal Wholesaling in the UK
  • Schweinehaltung

View all industries in United States

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IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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