Jason, vertical integration has done nothing to increase the profitability for the farmer.  It has dramatically increased the profitability of packers (PSA defines poultry dealers same as packers).  The market abuses in poultry (go read the London case for social justice being crushed) have only led to decreases in the profitability of poultry farmers and increased control by poultry companies.  Instead of farming the poultry, poultry dealers farm the farmer.  This will happen to the beef industry if current trends are allowed to play out and market power is not checked.  All increased profitability will be captured by the packers.  Trade the short term gain of contracts and marketing agreements for the loss of long term profitability.  It is as simple as that.

Again, gaining market share of chicken over beef has only increased the profitability for packers at the expense of the farmers who have approximately half of the capital invested and more and more of the market risk placed on them.