the cattle crisis

The internet says...

The primary source of protein in the United States is animal protein, which makes up about 69% of the protein in the American diet.

Chicken and beef were the primary food sources of animal protein intake.

The cattle herd is gone in my locality.

Nationwide, chicken processing facilities are being closed...

Chicken processing plants are closing in various locations, including Iowa, Tennessee, Missouri, Indiana, Arkansas, and Virginia. These closures are affecting both employees and farmers, and have raised concerns about animal welfare and economic impact.

Famine is coming.

I trade eggs to my neighbor for cuts of beef from cattle he raises and slaughters. I worked with a guy on a temp job who participated in the Iowa whole herd buyout program his dairy cows got slaughtered and he pissed and moaned about how the state put him out of business as a dairy farmer. I was much glad to part ways from him. On another note, did you get shook by that seismic activity a few days back?

On another note, did you get shook by that seismic activity a few days back?

It didn't seem to register here in my area.

his dairy cows got slaughtered and he pissed and moaned about how the state put him out of business as a dairy farmer.

He wasn't lying. He did get put out of business...not sure if it was the state, or controllers higher up. It is a helluva thing to see a high producing jersey cow go for $175 take it or leave it. I watched it happen to several guys I know...their wives crying unconsolably.

Pastures and barns are empty in Maine. How are cattle inventories in your neck of the woods? Texans lost big a few years back in the drought.

I trade eggs to my neighbor for cuts of beef from cattle he raises and slaughters.

Is he butchering mostly for personal consumption?

He wasn't lying. He did get put out of business...not sure if it was the state, or controllers higher up. It is a helluva thing to see a high producing jersey cow go for $175 take it or leave it. I watched it happen to several guys I know...their wives crying unconsolably.

I was born raised in Jones County Iowa the State prison there had large number of dairy cows they had two pastures that were around four-square miles, milking sheds cooper shop and cheese and butter making (all made from limestone blocks quarried by the convicts). I used to hunt them when I was in my teens. The cows were all gone by '71 they were still giving away the cheese and butter to at least '85 it was then when I met the guy. Milk was subsidized to keep the whole sale prices up, there were laws requiring state and federal institutions to use only real butter and whole milk (state schools and care facilities and all military dining facilities ashore and afloat).

We've been in drought conditions for six, seven years, the city only allows hand watering from watering can and then only plants and trees can be watered. The beef herds here are present but that's all I know about that. The neighbor owns a ranch more for not having to buy a deer lease at two grand per hunter per year. so he keeps cattle for personal use. The brush/dried pond is thick with deer, feral hogs, bob cats (breeding) and coyotes along with the various smaller critters all within a quarter mile from my coops, on most nights there is one coyote with in six feet. The cameras catch a lot but still no bigfoot or chupacabra, yet. Glad you didn't get banged around, I lived 45 miles from mount Pinatubo twelve inches of ash wet ash as a typhoon hit when the main eruption occured it was not a pleasant time.

Iowa whole herd buyout program

Ah, I needed to go back and read your comment closer. That was back in the 1980's? I wonder what they were paying farmers per cow.

In recent years, here in Maine, they tell the small dairyman that they will no longer pick up milk on such-and-such date. The farmer has no way of selling his herd for what they are worth. He's offered $175 for a cow that could normally fetch $1000-$2000 more or less depending. His registered jersey, whose bloodline has been the pride of his family for generations, will be butchered for hamburger or dogfood.

We've been in drought conditions for six, seven years, the city only allows hand watering from watering can and then only plants and trees can be watered. The beef herds here are present but that's all I know about that.

That's frightful conditions. Texas is the backbone of the beef supply. Cows need a lot of water.

within a quarter mile from my coops, on most nights there is one coyote with in six feet. The cameras catch a lot but still no bigfoot or chupacabra, yet.

Oh, they're out there...getting into chicken coops...try this trick

I always liked those but as I don't watch tv I haven't seen them for a decade or more. I have no idea what they were getting per head, just that every head was branded with an S. The national Ag reports I hear on the morning news say processed cattle numbers are down by thousands of head.