Since 1930, cattle numbers have had 
cyclical movements up and down (fig. 
21). Sheep numbers that peaked in 
1942 at 56 million head have dropped 
to 10.3 million head. Domestic 
livestock grazing on National Forest 
System lands has remained fairly 
constant since 1953. Domestic 
livestock grazing on Bureau of Land 
Management lands has declined as a 
result of reductions in stocking rates on 
some allotments and a transfer of 
BLM-administered lands to other 
agencies. Permitted grazing on 
National Forest System lands has 
declined in the Southwestern, 
Northern, and Eastern Regions. It has 
increased in the Pacific Southwest and 
Pacific Northwest Regions and shown 
no discernible long-term trend in the 
Southern Region. 
Millions 
120 
100 
====== Sheep and Goats 
amm==s Horses 
1840 
1860 
1880 
International Trade 
The rapid expansion in worldwide meat 
production in the 1970’s has slowed in 
the 1980’s. The total world meat output 
that enters international trade is 
approximately 7 percent of world 
production. Available information 
suggests that future international meat 
trade will not expand greatly. Many 
developing countries are moving 
toward self-sufficiency in poultry and 
pork. Beef imports into the United 
States have amounted to about 8 
percent of consumption since 1970, 
and exports, less than | percent of 
production until recently. There is little 
basis for expecting major changes in 
the trade situation. Therefore, future 
demand for meat in the United States 
will be primarily a function of 
domestic demands. 
1900 1920 
Figure 21—Number of livestock on farms in the United States, for selected years, 1840-1982. 
1940 
U.S. Consumption and 
Demand for Meat 
Beef consumption in the United States 
increased steadily after World War IT 
and reached a peak of 91.7 Ib (edible 
weight) per capita in 1976 (fig. 22). 
Consumption then declined to a low of 
76.5 pounds in 1980 and has remained 
below 80 pounds since then. Per capita 
consumption of lamb has declined from 
4.8 Ib in 1960 to 1.4 Ib in 1986. Per 
capita consumption of other meat 
products, especially poultry, and fish 
has increased. 
The cause for the past sluggish 
behavior in the beef market is uncertain 
despite extensive study of the situation. 
Possible reasons for the recent pattern 
of beef consumption include changes in 
consumer spending patterns, the lower 
relative prices of poultry and other beef 
substitutes, concerns over the role of 
meat in the daily diet, and the 
innovative products being made from 
