- The United States has the largest fed-cattle industry in the world, and is the world's largest producer of beef, primarily high-quality, grain-fed beef for domestic and export use.
- Beef production is related to the cattle cycle, a series of peaks and troughs in herd size and production that typically lasts from 8 to 12 years.
- Because the cattle/beef industry is a major user of feed grains, beef production is also affected by grain supplies and prices.
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/Cattle/
