where he treats his cows like family — with an end product of beef that’s among the best in Washington. Of course, there’s a long road between birthing a calf and selling it as beef.

USDA’s Semi-Annual Cattle Inventory report confirmed a 61-year low in the beef cow herd, and barring some major change in the weather, the cattle inventory may not be done shrinking yet.

Recently, Beef Magazine predicted a “perfect storm ... But usually, she’s calving — at midnight or 4 a.m., the baby cows can come at any time. Gray’s business draws interest from ...