Aggressive herd expansion reverses shrinking U.S. cattle supply

Affordable feed and record-high spikes in cattle prices in 2014 encouraged ranchers to increase their herds at a faster pace than previously expected during the past year, analysts said in response to a recent government yearly cattle report. Expansion efforts by producers helped turnaround the seven-year decline in the U.S. population from a 63-year low after severe drought hurt crops and forced ranchers to reduce the size of their herds.