Source: Jennifer Stewart Purdue University, SOUTHEAST FARM PRESS, 10/28/11

Drought in the Southern Plains and several years of high feed prices have discouraged beef producers enough that the U.S. cattle herd continues to shrink, a Purdue Extension agricultural economist says.



Since 2007, beef cow numbers have dropped by 12 percent, and the number of heifers retained for replacements is down 5 percent, Chris Hurt said.

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