The severe drought in California has created a problem for cattle ranchers, many of whom are selling their herds across state lines.
Reuters reports that as many as 100,000 cattle have left the state in the past four months alone. Nearly half of those, about 47,000, have headed to Texas. The rest will primarily go to Nebraska and Nevada.
The problem in California is the drought, which has caused the cost of cattle feed to spike. With feeding their herds no longer profitable, ranchers have little choice but to sell. Most of the animals will head to slaughterhouses outside the state.
For ranchers, the sale of their herds across state lines could have long-term implications. Normally ranchers sell off a portion of their herd but keep a sizable breeding stock to continue their business. But the drought has forced many to send even their breeding stock out of state. Assuming the drought ends, it could still be years until the herds return to their former size in California.
Source: Breitbart Texas