Roundup: U.S. ranchers face mounting strain as beef prices hit record highs

SACRAMENTO, United States, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- U.S. beef prices have climbed to record highs as the country's cattle herd shrinks to its lowest level in decades, underscoring mounting pressure across the industry.

Data released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the average retail price of 100 percent ground beef climbed to a record 6.752 dollars per pound, marking the largest monthly incr