Sheep, Lamb Trade Goes On Holiday
Sheep and lamb trading almost came to a standstill this week in observance of the Fourth of July holiday. Most Texas markets were closed for the week.

Fat Cattle Put Money Back On, Many Feedlots Holding For $64
Plains fed cattle prices staged an impressive rally this week, recouping last week’s $1 loss and adding another $2 for good measure. At presstime the trade was still going hot at $63, and many feedlots were adamant about holding for $64.

Plains Feedlot Sales

Range Sales

Etbauer Brothers Giving Back To Program That Launched Them
"Slow back, snap forward," Dan Etbauer tells saddle bronc rider Thomas McGraw, who sits astride a wooden mount behind the bucking chutes. "Concentrate on those spurs. It's like trying to click your heels through that sonuvagun's neck."

Industry Spokesmen Offering Positive Outlook For Cattle
Analysts are somewhat bullish about the future of the cattle industry, which is currently suffering from high feed costs, low retail beef prices and a lingering drouth in the Southwest.

Beetles In Hay May Have Killed Horses
Hay contaminated with blister beetles may have caused several horse deaths, a veterinarian warns.

Governor Halts Brand Inspection Transfer
Gov. Jim Geringer has declined to sign a brand inspection contract awarded to a Cheyenne firm, citing irregularities in the bidding process, his policy director said.

Joe Beaver Will Be Sidelined Longer Than First Anticipated
Calf roper Joe Beaver, Huntsville, Texas, is expected to be sidelined from rodeo competition for six to eight weeks with a broken wrist, says the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Most Feeder Cattle Prices Higher Across The Country
Feeder steers and heifers around the country generally sold steady to $2 higher last week, though calves in several places were steady to $2 lower.

Superior Livestock Video Sale Offering Totals 30,000 Cattle
Superior Livestock Auction offered nearly 30,000 head of feeder cattle in their regular video sale here. Trading was termed active and prices steady to strong, delivery current through this fall.

Texas Fed Cattle Off Again In One-Day Trading Affair
Slaughter steers and heifers closed $1 lower in Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma feedlot trading last week. Trading was active on Tuesday, slow the rest of the week.

Domestic Wool Slow, Steady, Aussie Finewools Prices Up
Trading on domestic wool was generally slow last week, limited sales mostly steady. Private treaty sales in Texas during the past few weeks moved approximately 750,000 pounds; 12-month 64s brought 70-85 cents grease, f.o.b. warehouses, a few high yielding lots 85-91 cents, low yielding lots as well as crossbred 58s to 62s 50-70 cents and blackface 20-35 cents.

Angelo Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Lower
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $1 lower last week, slaughter cows and bulls steady, stock cows and pairs steady. Two day receipts totaled 4505 head.

Kansas Direct Feeder Cattle Mostly Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold mostly steady in Kansas direct trade last week, a few 800-900 pound steers firm to $1 higher.

Fredericksburg Feeder Steer Prices Off $1-3
Feeder steers sold $1-3 lower, heifers steady, slaughter cows and bulls $1-2 higher. Receipts totaled 1736 head.

Most San Saba Cattle Prices Steady To Up
Feeder steer and heifer calves sold steady, yearlings steady to strong, slaughter cows steady, bulls strong, stock cows and pairs steady. Receipts totaled 953 head.

Cuero Cattle Prices Only Lightly Tested
Cattle receipts totaled 937 head, too few of any class for an accurate price test.

U.S. Meat Production 4.8% Below A Year Ago
Total red meat production under federal inspection last week was estimated at 810 million pounds, 1.2 percent more than a week earlier but 4.8 percent less than a year ago. Cumulative meat production for the year to date was 1.3 percent more than for the same period a year ago.

Most Lampasas Feeder Cattle Prices Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, instances $1-2 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 1375 head.

El Reno Feeder Lambs Sold Lower Last Week
Feeder lambs sold steady to $2 lower, slaughter lambs untested, slaughter ewes generally steady. Receipts totaled 900 head.

Hindsight

Unregistered Bull in a Hotel Lobby
Choice gleanings from 45-plus years of Unregistered Bull.
John was shaded up in the lobby as usual, like an old buck by a water hole. "I suppose," I ventured, "you spent a safe and sane Fourth of July?"

On The Edge Of Common Sense
By Baxter Black
It should not go unnoticed or unrecognized that President Clinton "beefed" up the school lunch program. As I understand it, for the school year '96-'97 he enacted an earlier-than-usual purchase of $50 million worth of beef to stimulate the sinking cattle market. That will bring the projected total for '96-'97 school year to $163 million. Last year, '95-'96, $150 million was approved for the school lunch program.

Pokin' Fun
By Doc Blakely
Well it has happened again. The 220th birthday of America got here and the noise of the celebration was enough to crack another Liberty Bell. It's really a wonder it has lasted this long because even the people who hate this country live here. They try to overthrow the government and people just stick a piece of cake in their mouth and yell, "Happy Birthday."

Shortgrass Country
By Monte Noelke
Three principal art museums fit into the Philadelphia trip last month. The hotel provided the tickets to the Museum of Fine Arts and the Museum of American Art. However, the third place, the Barnes Collection of some 2000 paintings, was not only outside the city, but runs on a first-come, first-served policy. Gates open at 9:30 am. and the maitre’d of the Ritz Carlson Hotel couldn't finagle an advance ticket for Mr. and Mrs. Bill Clinton, much less a hotel guest from Texas. No more than 100 people are permitted in the old Barnes mansion at a time. To be at the gates beforehand takes an early morning train ride and a mile or so walk to the property to wait in line.