We just received some very serious news.  The extremely deadly D1.1 strain of the H5N1 bird flu which has been ripping through the nation's poultry population in recent weeks has now gotten into the cattle population in the state of Nevada.  This is the very first time that cattle in the U.S. have ever tested positive for this strain.  What this means is that we are facing a very serious threat to our food supply.  As I detailed earlier this week, the U.S. is dealing with the worst egg shortage that it has ever experienced, and it is likely to get even worse as this new strain spreads.  Meanwhile, the size of the U.S. cattle herd could be reduced even further by this new strain, and it is already at the lowest level that we have seen since 1961…

As of January, the total number of cattle and calves was 86.7 million, down by 1% from last year, reported Market Intel. The beef herd has shrunk 40% since 1975 to the smallest size since 1961.

Beef cows that have calved hit a record low at 27.9 million, revealed the U.S. Department of Agriculture, while replacement heifers also decreased, indicating continued contraction in the cattle cycle.