Fat Lambs Up, Feeders Steady But Scarce
Feeder lambs remain in very limited supply all over the country. What lambs are available generally go to slaughter. Slaughter lambs were higher for the most part, some sharply higher, particularly on light lambs. A slow, two-day rain over much of Texas this week considerably reduced market supplies.

Plains Fed Cattle Movement Quiet Again Through Midweek
Plains fed cattle trade once again was far from jelling at midweek. Packer bids were running about $70, asking prices $73-74.

Kid Goat Prices Much Higher This Week On Texas Markets
Slaughter kid goats in Texas markets moved sharply higher this week. Junction was $2-5 higher, San Angelo $6-8 higher and Fredericksburg $3-5 higher. The volume at most markets was reduced due to the heaviest rain in more than three months. But nobody was complaining.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

Homeland Security Is Key Issue With Secretary Of Agriculture
Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman made a stop in San Angelo last week to visit with local and state farmers and ranchers. It was the first time a U.S. secretary of agriculture had ever visited here.

Sheep Producers Hear Update From Key Legislative Aides
Those attending the recent joint meetings of the National Lamb Feeders Association and American Sheep Industry Association had the opportunity to visit with key legislative directors who represent the sheep industry's friends on Capitol Hill.

Landmark Case Notes Ranchers’ Rights On Federal Grazing Land
A federal court here has ruled that Nevada rancher Wayne Hage has property rights on his federal grazing allotments, a ruling that is being heralded as a major victory for public lands ranchers.

Congress Members Seek A Halt To Subsidized Canadian Wheat
Members of Congress, led by the North Dakota delegation, called on the Bush administration in a letter Friday to halt what American wheat farmers say are unfair trade practices by Canada.

USDA Orders Cattleman To Pay Checkoff Fees
Kansas cattleman Jerry Goetz must pay more than $136,700 in beef checkoff assessments, late-payment charges and civil penalties under a new order issued by USDA judicial officer William Jenson. Jenson issued the order in response to one more attempt by Goetz to retain a stay on payment of checkoff assessments that he did not pay when he "willfully violated the Beef Promotion and Research Order."

Wool Growers Lose Another Topmaker
Burlington Industries Inc. has announced that it will close its Clarksville, Va., wool combing plant around late June. The company has reached an agreement in principle with Chargeurs Wool to commission comb its wool top requirements at the time of the Clarksville plant's closure.

Olympic Rodeo Still On Despite Activists
Salt Lake Organizing Committee President Mitt Romney announced last month a decision to keep the Olympic Command Performance Rodeo as part of the 2002 Cultural Olympiad.

Nation’s Feeder Cattle Mostly Steady Last Week, Demand Good
Feeder cattle and calves sold mostly steady across the nation last week. The only exception was the Southeast, where prices were mostly $1-2 higher as business returns to normal following the previous week’s heavy rains.

Nation’s Fed Cattle Trade Nil, Few Token Sales Point Higher
The slaughter cattle market was not well established by 10 a.m. Friday.

Cattle Count Off One Percent For The Year At 96.7 Million
All cattle and calves in the United States as of Jan. 1 totaled an estimated 96.7 million head, down one percent from the 97.3 million for the same date last year and two percent below the 2000 total of 98.2 million.

Angelo Lambs Firm, Feeder Cattle Higher
Feeder lambs sold steady in a light supply this week, slaughter lambs firm on weights over 90 pounds, lighter weights sharply higher, slaughter ewes weak to $2 lower. Nanny goats were steady, kids $6-8 higher. Receipts totaled 8685 head, around 50 percent slaughter ewes, 20 percent slaughter lambs, one percent feeder lambs, and 30 percent goats.

Kansas Direct Feeder Steers, Heifers Lower
Feeder steers sold steady to $1 lower last week in Kansas direct trade, heifers steady to $1 lower on light receipts. A winter storm moved into the area on Wednesday and southern portions of the state received freezing rain and ice, the north half 4-12 inches of snow. Sales were confirmed on 6902 head.

U.S. Meat Production 4.9% Above A Year Ago
Total red meat production under federal inspection last week was estimated at 877.8 million pounds, .7 percent less than a week earlier but 4.9 percent more than a year ago. Cumulative meat production for the year to date was down .7 percent at 4.21 billion pounds.

2001 Mexican Cattle Imports Down 27%
Feeder cattle imports from Mexico the week ending January 26 totaled 32,248 head. The year to date volume is down 27 percent at 93,160 head.

2001 Texas Wool, Hair Crops At Record Lows
The Texas Agricultural Statistics Service reports Texas wool production in 2001 was off 20 percent from 2000 at six million pounds. Mohair production was down 27 percent at 1.72 million pounds. Both wool and mohair were at the lowest levels on record.

Most Fredericksburg Lambs Steady, Goats Up
Feeder lambs sold steady, lightweight slaughter lambs steady, heavyweights $5-10 higher; stock and feeder goats $4-5 higher, slaughter $3-5 higher. Heavy rain held receipts to 1499 head.

Milano Feeder Steers, Heifers Trend Higher
Feeder steers sold $1-3 higher, heifers steady to $2 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 493 head.

Colorado City Feeder Cattle Prices Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $1-4 higher, slaughter cows $1-2 higher, bulls steady, stock cows $50-100 higher, pairs $100 higher. Receipts totaled 1486 head.

Most Fredericksburg Feeder Cattle Strong
Feeder steers and heifers sold strong, slaughter cows and bulls $2-4 higher. Receipts totaled 1258 head.

December Ready-To-Cook Chicken Output Up 4%
Poultry certified wholesome during December, ready-to-cook weight, was up four percent from a year ago at 2.91 billion pounds.

Most Graham Feeder Cattle Prices Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold mostly steady, some weighing less than 400 pounds $1 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady to $1.50 higher, stock cows and pairs $20-25 higher. Receipts totaled 876 head.

Hamilton Cattle, Goat, Sheep, Prices Steady
All classes of cattle sold steady on receipts of 204 head. On Wednesday, January 30, sheep and goats sold steady. Receipts totaled 641 head.

Abilene Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $2-3 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $2-3 higher. Receipts totaled 459 head.

Most Llano Cattle Prices Move Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $2-5 higher, slaughter cows $2-4 higher. Rain-reduced receipts totaled 175 head.

eMerg/CattleinfoNet Offers 2900 Feeders
eMerg/CattleinfoNet offered 2900 feeder cattle at Internet auction. Consignments were from Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Virginia. Delivery was current to March.

Most Cuero Cattle Prices Called Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold higher, slaughter cows steady to $1 higher, bulls $1-2 higher, stock cows strong. Receipts totaled 1189 head.

Domestic Wool Slow, Aussie Wools Higher
Domestic wool trading was at a standstill in most areas last week. Demand was moderate to good for very light available supplies. Remaining supplies are held in strong hands following several weeks of sharply higher Australian wool prices.

San Saba, Brownwood, Mason Steers Steady
Feeder steers sold steady, heifers steady to $1 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady, stock cows and pairs steady to $20 higher. Receipts totaled 4077 head at the three sales.

Junction Goats Sell Sharply Higher
Kid goats sold $2-5 higher, Angora nannies and muttons $5-9 higher. Receipts totaled 3147 head.

Lampasas Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, slaughter cows $2-3.50 higher, bulls $3-4 higher. Receipts totaled 761 head.

Sheep Numbers Down 4%, Smallest Number Ever
The all sheep and lamb inventory in the United States on January 1 was down four percent at 6.69 million head, five percent below two years ago. The inventory has trended downward since peaking at 56.2 million head in 1942.

Loose Ends

Coming Up...
February 13 — Falcon Seaboard Ranches’ Annual Bull Sale, North Platte, Nebraska. February 16 — Weaver Ranch’s Annual Production Sale, at the ranch, north of Collins, Colorado. February 16 — Gray Land & Cattle Polled Hereford Sale, Edmond, Oklahoma.