Poultry has had big subsidies from the US government. Malaysia has lifted subsidies on chicken. but it was once and may still be true for red meat - these "industries" are heavily subsidized by the US government.

In the 1940s & before meat was not subsidized. Only the rich could afford to buy red meat a few times a month. The middle class and poor did not eat much red meat if at all.

https://www.tennesseeriverkeeper.org/blog/chicken-sludge-a-new-subsidy-to-big-chicken-from-uncle-sam