Beef is generally more expensive than chicken due to several factors:

1. **Feed and Rearing Costs**: Cattle require more resources, including land, water, and feed, to raise compared to chickens. Beef cattle typically consume larger quantities of feed over a longer period to reach market weight, resulting in higher production costs. Additionally, the cost of feed ingredients, such as grains and forages, can fluctuate based on market conditions, impacting the overall cost of raising beef cattle.

2. **Growth Rate and Efficiency**: Chickens grow and reach market weight much faster than cattle, typically in a matter of weeks compared to several months or even years for beef cattle. This faster growth rate and higher feed conversion efficiency mean that chickens require fewer resources to produce a pound of meat compared to beef cattle, resulting in lower production costs for chicken meat.

3. **Land and Space Requirements**: Raising beef cattle requires more land and space compared to raising chickens. Cattle need ample pasture or grazing land to roam and graze, whereas chickens can be raised in more intensive production systems, such as poultry houses or free-range operations, which require less land per animal.

4. **Processing and Distribution Costs**: Beef processing and distribution involve additional costs compared to chicken due to the larger size and weight of beef carcasses. Processing facilities must handle larger animals, which require more time, labor, and specialized equipment. Additionally, beef requires more refrigeration and transportation during distribution, adding to the overall cost.

5. **Demand and Market Dynamics**: Beef is often considered a premium protein source and is in high demand worldwide, especially in countries with affluent populations. Higher demand for beef, coupled with limited supply and production capacity, can lead to higher prices in the marketplace. In contrast, chicken is often perceived as a more affordable protein option and is consumed more widely, leading to lower prices overall.

6. **Value-Added Products**: Beef offers a wide range of value-added products, including premium cuts like ribeye steak and filet mignon, as well as processed products like ground beef and beef jerky. These value-added products command higher prices in the marketplace compared to commodity chicken products, contributing to the overall higher cost of beef.

Overall, the combination of feed and rearing costs, growth rate and efficiency, land and space requirements, processing and distribution costs, demand and market dynamics, and value-added products all contribute to beef being more expensive than chicken in most markets.