The average Georgia Cattlemen's Association member owns 123 head of cattle and owns or leases an average of 447 acres of land. Beef is clearly still the consumer meat of choice. There are 102 million cattle in the United States. Georgia has 1.5 million cattle, which ranks Georgia 23rd. Texas is the largest cattle state with 15 million head.
Agriculture is the largest single segment of the U.S. economy.
The cattle industry is the largest segment of American agriculture. The high nutrient density of beef makes it an essential part of low-calorie diets, especially for women with greater iron requirements. A 3-ounce serving of lean beef contains less fat than a tablespoon of typical salad dressing. Beef is one of the best sources of iron, the single nutrient most often lacking in the diets of adult women, young children and athletes. It contains a high percentage of heme iron, which is more easily absorbed by the body and five to 10 times more available than non-heme iron from plant sources.