Did the prices of livestock increase in 2014?

During 2014, the herd and flock sizes of cows, pigs and chickens all decreased, leading to a shortage of animal proteins and increasing prices for cattle, which are hardest to replace. The impact was lessened in pigs as reduced corn prices led to overfeeding and greater gains per animal.

Pork futures and hog prices increased early in 2014 due to disease, but this was controlled late in the year, and prices began to fall again. Production has increased to bulk out the thinner herds of 2014, and livestock and meat prices are predicted to fall throughout 2015 and 2016 as more animals enter the supply chain.