Livestock & Dairy

Hawai'i Island’s livestock and dairy sector includes cattle ranching, poultry, and small-scale dairy farming. The island’s large pasturelands make it well-suited for cattle grazing, with beef production accounting for a significant portion of agricultural output. According to the 2022 USDA NASS Agricultural Census, the cattle inventory remains stable, with hundreds of ranching operations contributing to the local and export beef market. Poultry and pork production are more limited in scale but provide important local protein sources. Dairy farming has declined over the years, with only a few remaining operations focused on specialty products such as goat cheese and raw milk.

The livestock value chain begins with breeding and rearing, where most cattle are raised on pasture-based systems. Some ranchers finish their cattle locally for direct-to-consumer beef sales, while others participate in the wean-off system, shipping young calves to mainland feedlots for finishing. Processing facilities on the island are limited, leading to bottlenecks in slaughter and meat distribution. Poultry and pork producers typically rely on small-scale processing or on-farm operations to bring products to market. Dairy products, although niche, are distributed through direct sales and specialty retailers.

Challenges in the livestock and dairy sector include high feed costs, which are exacerbated by Hawaii’s dependence on imported grain. Limited local processing capacity creates additional logistical challenges for meat producers. For dairy farmers, regulatory barriers and competition from imported dairy products make it difficult to sustain profitable operations. Disease management, fencing and grazing land access, and climate-related challenges also impact production efficiency.