US chicken consumption per capita flew past beef in 1993 and hasn't stopped since, per Bloomberg. This year, Americans are forecast to eat 100.9 pounds of chicken, on average, compared to 56.3 pounds of beef. Across the US cattle production industry, 700k+ businesses generated $85B in 2022 revenue; meatpacking accounts for another $300B annually. As feed prices and drought drive up production costs for beef on one end, competition from chicken is ruffling feathers on the other.