Smallest Cattle Herd in 75 years

For the first time in U.S. history, a pound of lean ground beef costs more than the federal minimum wage (currently $7.25 an hour). And there is no good solution on the table.

President Donald Trump wants to lower beef prices by dropping extra tariffs on about 331,000 tons of ground-beef imports for 90 days. Many American ranchers oppose this plan, saying they cannot compete with cheaper beef from countries such as Argentina, Australia and Brazil. Trump announced on Wednesday that he is also trying to help ranchers by breaking the semi-monopoly that controls meat processing.

• Even if these plans proceed, U.S. beef prices will probably keep rising because supply will keep dropping. The U.S. is experiencing its worst megadrought in 1,200 years, and it is difficult if not impossible for many ranchers to raise cattle.

The U.S. had only 86.2 million cattle at the start of 2026, the smallest collective herd since 1951.

• About 154 million people lived in the U.S. in 1951 (one cow for every two people).
• About 342 million live here now (one for every four).

Herbert W. Armstrong proved in The United States and Britain in Prophecy that America and Britain descended from the ancient Israelites and were the primary recipients of the birthright promises God made to the patriarch Abraham. These promises specified vast herds of cattle (Genesis 49:22-26; Deuteronomy 8:12-17).

This prophecy is why Ambassador College’s Living Environment series reported in 1970 that Israelites ate 150 percent more animal protein and 37 percent less plant protein than non-Israelites. Access to high-quality animal protein is part of the birthright blessings God promise Abraham’s descendants.

• Annual American beef consumption peaked at 94 pounds per person in 1976 but has recently fallen to about 60 pounds per person. Americans have made up for this decline by eating more chicken.

Another prophecy Mr. Armstrong’s book mentions describes devastating drought in end-time America. Joel 1:17-20 says:

The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered. How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate. O Lord, to thee will I cry: for the fire [hot sun] hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field. The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up ….

Many of America’s cattle are already groaning because they have no pasture, but Bible prophecy tells us that agricultural crises and food shortages will intensify as God removes the birthright blessings.