1.   Ranchers are thinning already thin herds, while growers are planting drought-resistant, short-seasoned crops when they are planting at all.

2.   Robin combed the Internet for suggestions, hoping to find a humane, St. Patrick-like method of thinning the herd.

3.   Slaughter rates, which suffered after soaring feed costs forced many producers to thin their herds last year, now are rebounding.

4.   The decline in placements came after many ranchers thinned their herds last spring and summer amid drought-ravaged pasture lands and record-high feed prices.

5.   The decline in placements came after many ranchers thinned their herds last spring and summer amid drought ravaged pasture lands and record-high feed prices.

6.   The decline in placements in December came after many ranchers thinned their herds last spring and summer as feed prices soared.

7.   Usually, high feed prices lead livestock producers to thin their herds, reducing consumption and easing demand.