Government says America's beef cow inventory up 2 percent from 2014

U.S. beef cow inventory increased 2 percent from a year ago, signaling expansion among herds across the nation, according to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture-National Agricultural Statistics Service cattle report. "I thought the report showed more beef cows added than I expected," said David Anderson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service livestock specialist in College Station. "But record prices in the last half of 2014 will do that." Anderson said prior to the report, industry experts had the mindset the current rebuilding phase will be longer and slower. "It might have to be re-thought," he said. Seven percent more beef cows were reported in Texas on Jan. 1 compared to the same time last year. When the final numbers come in, Anderson said it potentially could be the largest year-to-year percentage increase in Texas beef cows since 1972-1973, when the cowherd grew 14 percent...more