Cattle cycles stretch as far back as the seven fat, healthy cows and the seven scrawny, thin cows of Biblical times. The seven fat cows foretold seven years of good harvest; everyone would have plenty to eat. However, the seven thin cows meant that seven years of famine would follow. Sheep inventories are cyclical, too.
The Jan. 1 U.S. inventory of all sheep and lambs totaled 5.03 million head. This is the smallest sheep and lamb inventory ever. USDA provides the series back to 1867.
All U.S. cattle and calves on Jan. 1 totaled 87.16 million head. This is the smallest inventory of cattle and…
