I have a curiosity about something, and I'd love an educated answer.

[1WorldHope]

Today at a local grocery store, Hy-Vee, I purchased 2 NY Strips, small, thin and on sale. They cost $ 21.00, roughly, and I bought two center cut pork chops, again, small, thin and on sale. The pork chops cost $2.63.
I live in Nebraska and our governor is Jim Pillen, veterinarian, pig farmer, and not a politician, according to him.
So here is my question, why is pork so cheap compared to beef? They both should have been hit equally hard by the tariffs. Is it possible Pillen the Pig farmer, has a "gentleman's agreement" with the orange pedophile grifter fascist wanna be? "I won't mess with your Mexicans, (as Randy Marsh would call them) if you don't reflect the damage done by the tariffs." Or is the grocery store also involved? I can't imagine the loss they are both taking considering China and most of the world has said, fuck off Donnie little dick. Does anyone have any ideas that go beyond my speculation?

[Ocelot II]

1. Production costs for pork are lower than for beef.

Pigs mature faster than cattle and are cheaper to feed.

[brakester]

3. Doesn't China

control most of pork market?

[paleotn]

6. No. The US, EU, Canada and Brazil are the top global exporters.

China is generally an importer of pork.

[WheelWalker]

14. Yes, both true. Additionally, Hogs dress out at a higher percentage than cattle.

Typically 70 to 75% Hogs versus 58 to 65% for cattle. Producers also benefit from the hog's reproductive strategy, in which offspring are born in litters.

[yellowdogintexas]

15. and they generally have litters of anywhere from 11 to 15 piglets and 2 to 3 litters per year

Pigs have shorter pregnancies too, at 115 days. Pigs are ready for market from 5 to 7 months of age.

Cattle have a 263 day pregnancy with most pregnancies producing 1 calf although cows do have twin births.
The average market age is between 12 to 24 months and they have to weigh at least 1200 pounds.

Most of the farmers I know raise pigs. The cattle herds are not very large, and not as many farmers raise cattle. (at least in Kentucky) Most cattle are raised for beef although a few folks have dairy herds.

Costco has some incredible boneless pork chops, about 2 inches tall at $2.40 or thereabouts per pound. I buy a package about every 6 weeks - they look a lot like a beef filet mignon.

[Runningdawg]

2. It could just be the butcher ordered too much pork.

[paleotn]

4. Ocelot's got you covered.

Far less input cost per Lb. of pork produced vs. beef. Even less for chicken.

[Fiendish Thingy]

5. A lot of beef is imported, pork is not

Domestically farmed meat shouldn’t be affected by tariffs, so not sure where you got the idea they would be affected equally.

Brazil exports a lot of beef to the US, which slaps, IIRC, a 50% tariff on it. US beef companies have probably raised their prices to cash in on the opportunity.

[paleotn]

7. Exactly.

[1WorldHope]

10. I'm in Nebraska.

A fillet cost about $15 a piece for a 6 oz piece 3 weeks ago. Today it was $25 each.

[Fiendish Thingy]

12. What happened over the last three weeks?

TACO finally implemented tariffs against Brazil.

[The Madcap]

8. Demand is part of it, I believe.

Honestly, if steaks were cheaper, they'd be flying off the shelves.

I quit buying beef (even hamburger), as pork is much more affordable where I live in middle America.

[Morbius]

9. FYI:

I just bought some pork tenderloin today at $2.99 a pound, and pork tenderloin is fabulous. It's great in sauces and soups and with stir fry, as well as breaded and fried.

Pigs will eat anything, I've been told. Cows are not as flexible. Also, there's a supply and demand thing here; American prefer beef and are willing to pay more for it.

[yellowdogintexas]

16. my mom used to cook pork loin roasts. They were around 5 pounds each

much larger than a tenderloin. It was often what we had for Thanksgiving or Christmas. My dad was not fond of turkey but he loved pork.

[Morbius]

18. Pork loin is not the same as pork tenderloin.

Pork tenderloin is smaller and pricier, but also juicier and more tender (hence the name). I find it more flexible. Both are easy to overcook, which one should try to avoid.

[yellowdogintexas]

19. the tenderloin is from the underside of the whole loin

It has far less fat and cooks up quickly (yes it is easy to overcook) I love those because they are just right for two.

When I was growing up you did not see tenderloin sold separately. However many folks butchered their own hogs and would carve out some tenderloins.

The whole loin is fattier which also makes it a bit more moist. It has a nice fatback which gets crusty as it cooks.

I cooked a whole loin one year for Christmas dinner at my in-laws. I was shocked to find out that they were not familiar with it at all, even though they were from the rural South. They really liked it though.

[yellowdogintexas]

20. Pigs will eat anything! Remember Wu's Pigs from Deadwood?

Instant body disposal.

I have always wondered if the exclusion of pork in the Jewish/Muslim diet was due to trichinosis? Folks ate pork, folks got sick. Pigs also will eat their own which may also have something to do with it. The meats which are OK in a kosher diet come from vegetarian animals. All very interesting.

[1WorldHope]

11. Well, hell. Lesson learned.

I asked for your POV and you gave it. I will pay more attention when I shop in general.

[indusurb]

13. One factor is that US cattle herds are their lowest number in generations.

Over the past few years, between droughts, hay shortages, high feed prices American cattlemen have dropped their herd size dramatically.

[LeftInTX]

17. We aren't importing livestock from Mexico right now due to screw worms.

This is one reason prices for beef area up.