Texas has lost 15 percent of its cattle since 2011
In the latest sign of the drought’s toll on Texas, Nebraska has surpassed the state in the number of cattle being fattened for slaughter, according to the latest federal statistics.
Drought-ravaged Texas lost its fictional crown after its total dropped 7 percent over the past year, to 2.44 million head in feedlots with a capacity of at least 1,000 animals. That compares unfavorably with Nebraska’s loss of less than a half a percent, to 2.46 million head, the Lincoln Journal Star said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said that, as of Feb. 1, there were 10.76 million head of cattle being fattened for slaughter nationally, compared with 11.07 million a year ago.
Nebraska remains far behind Texas in the total number of cattle with 6.5 million head, compared with 10.9 million in Texas.
Overall, the nation’s cattle herd has dwindled to its lowest level since the 1950s, and that has driven the average price of beef to a record $5.04 a pound, as of earlier this month. That price represents a 6 percent hike from a year ago, and that comes in wake of a 5 percent rise in 2012.
More at http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/02/26/5602885/texas-has-lost-15-percent-of-its.html?rh=1 .
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