Cowboys are an American icon, and they are absolutely essential to the operation of the Matador Cattle Company?s 6,500-acre Beaverhead Ranch in Montana; however, although they are an icon, they are not a typical fixture for today?s cattle producers. In fact, almost half of all cattle are raised in small herds east of the Mississippi River, and the largest cattle ranch in the United States is on the big island of Hawaii. Also, cattle are as often raised as edible pets or for status as they are for economic reasons. In fact, almost half of beef producers are part-time farmers, and cow-calf operations are typically the least profitable type of farm, according to the USDA. While nearly 35% of all American farms are classified as beef cattle operations, the most of any type of farm in the United States, they have the lowest income of any type of farm, with the majority of beef cattle farms run by part-time farmers whose farming income represents less than 20% of their total income. Nearly a quarter of all cattle operators consider themselves retired. As a result, the cattle supply is often insulated from price sensitivity, as many producers will continue to raise cattle without expectation or need of profit..