The meatpacking industry has changed a lot in the past 25 years, becoming more efficient and focused on delivering large amounts of meat at low costs. This was achieved by making slaughter plants bigger and more streamlined, and by consolidating livestock feeding in large farms. In the future, the focus will likely shift towards ensuring the quality of livestock production and meat products, with more emphasis on assurance and tight coordination among different stages of the supply chain. This may lead to changes in how livestock production and meatpacking businesses operate, with a greater emphasis on quality assurance and environmental practices.