NO ONE’S A STRANGER to these ewes west of San Angelo, at least no one in a rig that resembles a feed truck. As winter deepens and they near their appointed lambing date, they have become harder to scare off the feed grounds.

Lamb Meat Holds, Lamb Prices Up
Dressed lamb prices held steady last week and lamb prices felt the yo-yo string tighten enough to bounce back up a little. Slaughter lambs in most markets were up a couple of dollars, Texas feeder lambs up about the same. Slaughter ewes were higher, 5263 head crossing into Mexico last week.

Like Broken Record, Plains Fed Cattle Stuck In A Rut
Plains fed cattle trade needed a bridge at midweek, something to span the chasm between $61-63 bids and $65-68 asking prices.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

Forbes Says Nation Must Revert From "Bigger Is Better" Notion
From an address to the Competitive Enterprise Institute — It is said an institution is the lengthened shadow of one man. I'm sure we all agree that CEI is the lengthened shadow of its founder. He is one of the great policy entrepreneurs of our time.

Best Way To Fight Ecos’ Suits Is To Launch Preemptive Strike
The major problem with litigation over land management in the Southwest today is that ranchers are shooting at moving targets chosen and manipulated by their adversaries.

Ag Income Was Higher In 1997;Prospects Also Good This Year
Agricultural income in Texas and especially in South Texas improved substantially in 1997 when compared to 1996, and prospects are also promising for this year.

Angus Spokesman Issues Call For More Choice Beef Cattle
"It's time for the beef cattle industry to accept the fact that USDA Select beef is of little if any use in expanding beef demand in this country," says Dick Spader, executive vice president of the American Angus Association.

Mohair Council Focusing More On Moving Adult Hair Tonnage
The price of adult mohair has been in a slump for the past three years. In an effort to boost the stagnant market, the Mohair Council of America has taken something of a new approach, shifting more spending away from promotion and advertising and into product development.

USDA Attributes Big 1997 Crops To Good Weather, Less Meddling
Near-ideal weather conditions and removal of government restrictions on planting allowed farmers last year to harvest a record soybean crop and bring in big corn, wheat and cotton crops, the U.S. Agriculture Department reported last week.

Harris Ranch Has Long Been A Leader In Branded Beef
No one knew of Jack Harris when he started farming in the San Joaquin Valley in 1937. That quickly changed, however.

Seminar To Address Beef Issues In NM
New Mexico State University will sponsor a beef cattle management seminar Feb. 12 at the Tucumcari Convention Center.

HRM Of Texas Annual Meeting In Kerrville
Hoistic Resource Management of Texas has scheduled its 1998 annual meeting for Feb. 13 and 14 at the Inn of the Hills River Resort here.

Panhandle Livestock Association To Meet
The Panhandle Livestock Association will celebrate its 83rd birthday here Feb. 7.

Angelo Feeder Lambs, Feeder Cattle Higher
Feeder lambs sold $2-4 higher this week, slaughter lambs steady, slaughter ewes $1-2 higher.

Most San Saba, Mason, Brownwood Cattle Up
Choice feeder steers sold $2-5 higher in Mason, Brownwood and San Saba last week, heifers $2-7 higher on lightweights and steady on heavies, medium quality steady to strong, slaughter cows and bulls $2-5 higher, stock cows and pairs $25-100 higher.

Junction Feeder Lambs Steady, Angoras Lower
Feeder lambs sold steady, slaughter lambs $3-5 lower, slaughter ewes and bucks mostly steady; stock Angora nannies and muttons $3 lower, slaughter kids steady to $2 lower, others $4-6 lower; stock Spanish nannies steady, slaughter classes $2-4 lower.

Most Lampasas Feeder Steers, Heifers Hold
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, slaughter cows $1-2 higher, bulls $4-5 higher. Receipts totaled 1526 head.

Goldthwaite Feeder Lamb Prices Steady
Feeder lambs sold fully steady, slaughter lambs $4-5 lower, slaughter ewes and bucks $1-2 lower, stock ewes steady; stock Angora muttons $5 higher, slaughter classes $5 lower; stock Spanish nannies $3 higher; slaughter classes $2-4 lower.

Most Abilene Feeder Cattle Prices Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold mostly steady with 400-500 pound heifers $4-5 higher, slaughter cows steady, bulls $2.50 higher, stock cows steady, and pairs $100 higher.

Most Colorado City Cattle Prices Higher
Feeder steers and heifers weighing less than 600 pounds sold $2-5 higher, heavier weights $1-3 higher, slaughter cows $1 higher, bulls $2 higher, bred stock cows $25-50 higher.

Cuero Feeder Cattle Trade Steady To Up
Trading was active, better classes of feeder cattle steady with recent advances, 500-600 pound steers higher, packer cows and bulls higher. Receipts totaled 2061 head.

Milano Cattle Prices Move To Higher Levels
Feeder steers sold $1-2 higher, heifers firm with 500-600 pounds $2-3 higher, slaughter cows $1-2 higher, bulls $3-4 higher. Receipts totaled 1037 head.

Loose Ends

Letters To The Editor

Coming Up...
January 31 — Special Cow Sale, Clovis Livestock Auction, Clovis, New Mexico. January 31 — Five Star Auction-eer’s Auction, Crowell, Texas. February 1 — Texas Hereford Association’s 29th Annual Commercial Heifer Show and Sale, West Arena, Fort Worth, Texas.