New numbers show ranchers are growing their cattle herds and that’s good news if you’re shopping for beef.
Cattle numbers were slashed during the drought a few years ago, reaching their lowest levels in half century. Since then the industry has been slowly rebuilding and that’s confirmed in the latest study from the Department of Agriculture.
The number of beef cows is over 30 million for the first time since 2012. That means ranchers will have to get by with lower prices for their animals.
But it also means savings for consumers. Ground beef prices reached a high of 4 dollars and 24 cents a pound about a year ago. Since then the price is down about 20 cents.