Wholesale Beef Costs Rose as Cattle Prices Dropped During Supply-Chain Disruptions in 2020

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic caused significant disruption to U.S. meat supply chains in the spring and summer of 2020, according to a recent USDA, Economic Research Service report. In the early months of the pandemic, COVID-19 infections caused worker absences at beef packing plants, leading to a slowdown in slaughter rates and even some temporary plant shutdowns. Wholesale beef prices rose, while cattle prices remained low. The price changes affected the entire supply chain. Cattle producers struggled with low prices for their market-ready animals and consumers paid more for beef at grocery stores.

根据美国农业部经济研究服务局（USDA, Economic Research Service）近期发布的报告，2020年春夏暴发的新型冠状病毒（COVID-19）疫情对美国肉类供应链造成了严重冲击。疫情初期，新冠病毒感染导致肉牛屠宰加工厂员工缺勤，致使屠宰速率放缓，部分工厂甚至临时关停。批发牛肉价格上涨，而活牛收购价格却持续低迷。此类价格波动波及整条供应链，肉牛养殖户面临商品肉牛售价走低的困境，消费者在杂货店购买牛肉时则需支付更高费用。