国泰海通｜食饮：肉奶共振，弹性可期——牧业专题报告

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the ongoing decline in raw milk prices and anticipates a faster reduction in livestock inventory in 25H2, which is expected to benefit beef and live cattle prices due to supply reduction and diminished import impacts, indicating strong profit elasticity for livestock companies amid the resonance of meat and dairy cycles [1][2]. Summary by Sections Raw Milk Prices and Supply-Demand Balance - Raw milk prices continue to decline, with expectations for supply-demand balance in 25H2. The financial pressure on farms during the silage procurement season in August-September is likely to accelerate the reduction of social inventory. The industry is expected to enter a supply-demand balance channel due to reduced production from heat stress and the effects of previous heifer inventory reductions, alongside a seasonal demand increase [2][3]. Beef and Live Cattle Price Trends - Beef prices are expected to enter an upward cycle in 25, following a low point in 2023. The decline in beef prices from 2023 was primarily due to low-priced imported beef squeezing demand and increased domestic production capacity. In 25, the reduction in supply and diminished import impacts are anticipated to lead to a price rebound, with beef and live cattle prices rising approximately 10% and 20% from previous lows, respectively [3][4]. Profit Elasticity in Livestock Companies - The resonance of meat and dairy cycles is expected to enhance profit elasticity for livestock companies. The gross profit margin is projected to improve significantly due to rising milk prices and reduced unit costs. If sales milk prices increase by 10% or 20%, leading dairy companies could see gross margin improvements of over 6 percentage points or 10 percentage points, respectively. Additionally, the fair value of breeding cows is expected to benefit from the rebound in milk prices and lower feeding costs [4].