Eating red meat has become more acceptable, after several years of beef bashing by some consumer groups and health advocates. All cuts of beef have moved higher this year, Brown said. But, plentiful supplies of cattle in the supply chain, especially market-ready cattle in feedlots, should keep a lid on cattle price increases for the coming months, Brown said. Helping maintain the good prices paid to cattle producers is a growing taste for beef by foreign buyers, Brown said. Beef exports out of the United States excluding food aid sent to Russia increased 9 percent for the first five months of this year compared with a year earlier.
Strongest demand comes from Mexico, Korea, Japan, and Canada.