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Absent from the reasons given for ranch decline is that "Per capita U.S. beef consumption peaked in the 1970s and has since declined by about one-third, according to USDA data on food availability." (http://www.wri.org/blog/2018/01/2018-will-see-high-meat-cons...) Though this does seem to be trending up again lately.

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Based on my experience per capita U.S. beef consumption isn't a primary factor when it comes to ranch decline. During that same time period beef consumption growth in Asia (per capita) offset the difference and then some. Over the past 20 years beef prices ($/kg) have increased almost 300% from ~$1.60 to ~$4.50.

I live in Saigon now. It is amazing to me how many restaurants here claim to serve USDA beef.

I say 'claim to' because so much is fake here and there is no way to verify it.

In Japan when you see a place advertising USDA you definitely are getting it and people go in excited and expecting it. Not because it will be good but because you'll be getting a lot of beef for a lot cheaper than domestic, which goes for double the price atleast, but the domestic is also noticeably better.

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