Feeder Lambs Scarce, Fats Move Higher
Feeder lambs continue to be a very scarce item this year. What few are marketed generally wind up as slaughter animals at much higher prices than those at which feeders can pencil out a profit for them. Slaughter lambs were $2-4 higher, and slaughter ewes were sharply lower in Texas, steady in the Midwest.

Plains Fed Cattle In Familiar Non-Trading Pattern At Midweek
Plains feedlots and packers once again stood several dollars apart in price at midweek. Packer bids of $71 met demands for $74, and nothing was moving.

Most Texas Goat Prices Steady, But San Angelo Sharply Higher
Most Texas markets moved slaughter goats at steady levels this week except San Angelo, which was $5-10 higher.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

Bush Addresses NCBA Meeting, Praises Values Of Cattlemen
When President George W. Bush walked into the Colorado Convention Center here last Friday, he was definitely among friends. Those friends were his fellow ranchers.

2001 Lamb Prices Wild, Wooly; Numbers Continued Declining
The feeder lamb market was in hog heaven the first part of 2001, with prices the highest they'd been in several years. Then the bottom fell out and prices dropped to their lowest levels in several years.

Cattle Feeders Group Opposes Country Of Origin Labeling
The chief executive officer of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association told the Panhandle Livestock Association here this month that his group opposes mandatory country of origin labeling.

Joint ASI, Lamb Feeders Meet Leads To Merger Of Two Groups
Members of the American Sheep Industry Association and the National Lamb Feeders Association conducted their first ever joint convention here a few weeks ago. It appeared to be a sign of the times, a sign that the sheep industry has finally realized that everyone — producers, feeders, packers and the like — must stand together if they are to remain standing at all.

Cattle Fax Predicts Renewed Profitability For Producers
Total cattle numbers continued to decline in 2001, limiting cattle and beef supplies. Stronger prices in 2001 were a result of smaller slaughter totals, lower beef production, and tighter feeder cattle and calf supplies, combined with improving beef demand.

Judge’s Ruling Against Mesa Water Group Surprises Many
It's not clear whether a ruling by a state judge here will impact meetings between Mesa Water Inc. and the Canadian River Municipal Water Authority over the pumping of ground water in the Texas Panhandle.

Rancher Sees Proactive Policy As Way To Approach Prairie Dog
There are several million prairie dogs across the United States, but radical environmental activists insist they should be listed as an "endangered" species because they are the primary prey of several animals that have already been listed.

Ag, Landowner Coalition Files Suit In Arkansas Shiner Case
A coalition of organizations from four states is expected to file suit against the federal government this month over a minnow.

Ecos Want Taxpayers To Buy Out Graziers
Environmental activists are trying to build support for a legislative proposal to create a public lands grazing permit buyout program.

NCBA Gives Livestock Markets Greater Voice In Governing
Livestock auction market operators and order buyers now have an increased presence and voice within the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Future Of Ag Bill In Congress Still Unclear, Economist Says
An experienced observer of Washington agricultural politics does not think an amendment prohibiting packers' ability to own and feed cattle in the Senate's version of the farm bill stands a chance of becoming law.

Senate Farm Bill Keeps Packer Ban In Place
On Tuesday the U.S. Senate refused to strike down the controversial Johnson amendment in the its version of the farm bill. In a vote of 53-46, senators elected to keep in place the proposed ban on packer ownership of livestock.

Colorado Leadership Balks At Water Plan
Colorado officials are pressing their U.S. senators to oppose part of the Senate's farm bill that would allow the federal government to buy or lease water to protect officially "endangered" species.

Nation’s Feeder Cattle Higher Last Week; Rains Help Grazing
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $2 higher across most of the United States last week. Certain areas, such as the Southeast, experienced uneven prices as icy weather impacted the market and curtailed receipts.

Fed Cattle Trading Stagnant Last Week Through Mid-Friday
The slaughter cattle market was just beginning to establish itself by 10 a.m. Friday in the Northern Plains, with a few $2 higher trades made in the beef. Trading was yet to begin in the Southern Plains.

Superior Livestock Video Sale Offering Totals 63,000 Cattle
Superior Livestock Auction offered more than 63,000 feeder cattle and bred stock cows here at their Cattlemen’s Winter Classic video sale. Consignments were from 27 states. Demand was good and trade active. Yearlings were $1-2.50 higher, calves $2-4 higher.

Angelo Killer Lambs, Feeder Cattle Higher
Feeder lambs were scarce this week, most lightweight lambs going for slaughter; slaughter lambs sold $2-4 higher, slaughter ewes $4-6 lower, instances $10 lower; nanny goats and kids were $5-10 higher. Two day receipts totaled 12,390 head, around 55 percent slaughter ewes, 10 percent slaughter lambs and 35 percent goats.

San Saba, Brownwood, Mason Cattle Higher
Feeder steers sold $4-8 higher last week in Mason, Brownwood and San Saba, heifers $3-5 higher, slaughter cows $3-5 higher, bulls $4-6 higher, pairs $20-30 higher. Receipts totaled 711 head at the three sales.

Lampasas Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, slaughter cows and bulls poorly tested. Receipts totaled 245 head.

Milano Feeder Steers, Heifers Move Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $2 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 847 head.

Most Llano Feeder Cattle Sell Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold fully steady except steers 375-425 pounds $1-2 lower, slaughter cows steady, bulls $2-4 higher. Receipts totaled 349 head.

Decatur Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Strong
Feeder steers and heifers sold strong, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 911 head.

2002 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 83,160 head.

Abilene Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $1 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $1 lower, stock cows and pairs mostly steady. Receipts totaled 852 head.

Most Hamilton Cattle Prices Called Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, slaughter cows and bulls steady, stock cows and pairs steady. Receipts totaled 496 head. On Wednesday, February 6, lambs sold $2-5 higher, ewes $1-3 higher, Barbados steady, nanny goats $3-5 higher, kids steady. Receipts totaled 591 head.

Domestic Wool Slow, Aussie Wools Higher
Domestic wool trading was slow to moderate last week on continued light supplies. Demand was moderate to good, carryover supplies light. The undertone was firm, but most classes were only lightly tested.

Colorado City Feeder Cattle Prices Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $2 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady, stock cows and pairs steady. Receipts totaled 361 head.

Most Fredericksburg Feeder Cattle Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady except 400-500 pounds $2-4 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $2-4 higher. Receipts totaled 607 head.

Most Junction Sheep, Goat Prices Steady
Most sheep and goat prices were steady, except lightweight kids a little lower. Receipts totaled 6328 head.

Graham Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $2 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $2-3 higher, stock cows and pairs steady. Receipts totaled 704 head.

U.S. Meat Inspection 5.9% Above A Year Ago
Total red meat production under federal inspection last week was estimated at 858.8 million pounds, 1.8 percent less than a week earlier and 5.9 percent more than a year ago. Cumulative meat production for the year to date was up .3 percent at 5.07 billion pounds.

Cuero Feeder Steers, Heifers Move Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold higher, slaughter cows and bulls $2-3 higher. Receipts totaled 1351 head.

Letter To The Editor

Loose Ends

Coming Up...
February 16 — Special Cow Sale, Pearsall Livestock Auction, Pearsall, Texas. 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.