The current small herd  means pressures on producers for herd expansion, which means less culling and a lower cow slaughter. This has the potential to change the dynamics for cow plants and beef grind as well as, ultimately, the hamburger supply. Squeeze on Hamburger Earlier this year, a Rabobank report caught the attention of many in the cattle business by reporting that the U.S. had become a hamburger nation. According to the report, more than 60 percent of beef consumed in the U.S. is in this form. That led to questioning about whether the U.S. cattle industry should shift more production away from fed cattle intended to improve middle meat cuts to more emphasis on a higher percentage of cheaper beef raised for hamburger. At the t...