Report: Nation's Cattle Herd Smallest Since 1952
Associated Press - Sat 11:29 AM 02/02/2013
A much anticipated government count shows the nation's cattle herd has shrunk to its smallest size in more than six decades amid a widespread drought that has forced ranchers to sell off their animals.
A much anticipated government count shows the nation's cattle herd has shrunk to its smallest size in more than six decades amid a widespread drought that has forced ranchers to sell off their animals.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Friday that the U.S. inventory of cattle and calves totaled 89.3 million animals as of Jan. 1. That is a down by 1.5 million cattle, or 2 percent, compared with a year ago at this time.
The agency says this is the lowest January cattle inventory since 1952. It does two counts per year, in January and July.
A livestock analyst says fewer cows will mean less beef and higher prices coming down the line for consumers.
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Aurora.
Sunday 3 February 2013 01:41 Report this comment
All has to do with greed and using corn to make fuel. The prices have risen so much to raise animals with those selling hay at an unrealistic price to make money and then our corn crops going to make fuel for cars makes raising animals almost impossible. More people will stop eating meat if the prices continue to rise which will cost more producers to raise less cattle.