Virginia livestock population grows in 2012
Virginia livestock population grows in 2012, bucking nationwide trend
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- The Virginia Department of Agriculture says Virginia has 8 percent more cattle than it did last year, despite a falling level of cattle nationwide.
As of Jan. 1, Virginia had more than 1.6 million head of cattle, tying it with Pennsylvania for 18th in cattle population nationwide.
In 2012, cattle stocks across the country fell to their lowest level since 1952. There are 89.3 million head of cattle in the U.S., down 2 percent from last year.
Virginia's sheep population grew by 4 percent in 2012, while the sheep population nationwide fell by 1 percent.
