MUDDY FEET on these calves near Wichita Falls are not in evidence through the stand of old grass and weeds, but they’re there. Unlike areas of Texas to the south and west, this part of the state has received substantial moisture, and the warm weather of late is beginning to bring on tinges of spring green. Less blessed areas will need several sessions of slow, soaking rains to catch up.

Texas Feeder Lambs Losing Some Ground
Feeder lambs in most Texas markets suffered losses this week, mostly in the $3-5 off area. Slaughter lambs in Midwest markets were about $4 lower, while the limited number in Texas markets were about steady. Slaughter ewes were generally steady.

Good News In Fed Cattle Trade Short-Lived; Price Is $59-60
These days, good news in the fat cattle business has the life expectancy of a cottontail in a dog kennel. The upturn that seemed apparent Friday before last turned to dust late last week as expectations of $64 fed cattle were replaced by $62 deals on Thursday and $61 prices on Friday. By early this week, those prices were looking good.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

Beef Council Uses Oprah Case To Tell Beef’s Story To Media
Call it damage control or making lemonade out of lemons, but the Texas Beef Council is using the Oprah trial and the media horde it has attracted to get its message out about beef.

Food Is A Bargain, Especially When Compared To Government
Time was when Americans’ biggest concern was where the next meal was coming from and how to earn enough money through the year to keep their family fed. Now, through the miracles of modern technology, it takes only a little more than one month’s average wages to buy a year’s supply of groceries.

Oprah Jury In Deliberations As Presstime Came Wednesday
As Livestock Weekly went to press, jurors in the Oprah Winfrey beef defamation trial were deliberating their verdict. Following closing arguments Wednesday morning, U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson told the four-man, eight-woman jury that under business disparagement law they would have to decide if Winfrey published false and disparaging statements concerning specific business property — the plaintiffs’ cattle — with knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard for the truth, or ill will designed to harm the plaintiffs’ economic well-being.

Harris Ranch Snares $250,000 Award For Best Beef Product
Harris Ranch Beef Company of Selma, Calif., received the $250,000 Centennial Award for the "Best New Beef Product in America" for its fully-cooked, read-to-heat-and-eat-in-seven-minutes pot roast. The award was presented at the recent Cattle Industry Centennial Convention here.

Meat Inspection Fee Proposal Draws Fire
A USDA proposal to require meat, poultry and egg processors to pay $573 million in new fees for existing federal food inspectors is being questioned by the chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee on agriculture.

NCBA Members Heard Many Times: Marketing System Needs Fixing
The beef industry must change its current marketing system to reflect the needs of consumers. So said several speakers at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s recent annual convention here.

Cattlemen Sue Chicken Giant, Claiming Influence-Peddling
A group of cattlemen has sued the nation's largest poultry producer, claiming the company's influence-peddling bought their product preferential government treatment in comparison to beef.

NCBA Recognizes Environmental Stewards And Century Ranches
Tony Malmberg, a cattleman from Lander, Wyo., received the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association national 1997 Environmental Stewardship Award. The award is given annually to cattlemen who demonstrate superior stewardship practices that protect and enhance natural resources and the environment.

WTO Accepts Ruling Against EU Beef Ban
The World Trade Organization has formally adopted a ruling that the European Union unfairly banned imports of U.S. beef.

NLFA Approves Proposed Model For New Industry Organization
Members of the National Lamb Feeders Association heard firsthand about the proposed model for a new national sheep organization at their recent convention here.

Williams And Skelton Show Why They’re Defending World Champs
Defending world champion team ropers Speed Williams and Rich Skelton made a clean sweep in their event at the recent Southwestern International Livestock Show and Rodeo in El Paso.

South Texas To Host Ranching Festival
A long list of entertainment is scheduled for the 1998 South Texas Ranching Heritage Festival March 6-8. The event will be held at the John E. Conner Museum here.

Superior Livestock Video Sale Offering Totals 32,000 Cattle
Superior Livestock Auction offered more than 32,000 feeder cattle and breeding stock at their regularly scheduled video auction. Consignments were from 25 states and Mexico.

Graham Feeder Cattle Called Mostly Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold mostly steady, weights under 500 pounds $2-3 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady, bred stock cows steady to $10 higher, pairs steady to $20 higher.

Angelo Feeder Cattle Higher, Lambs Lower
Feeder lambs sold $3-5 lower this week, slaughter lambs steady, slaughter ewes steady. Receipts totaled 7853 head.

Most Colorado City Cattle Trade Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $2-5 higher, steers over 600 pounds $4-7 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $2-3 higher, bred stock cows firm, pairs $25-50 higher.

Olney Feeder Cattle Trade Steady To Up
Feeder steers and heifers over 650 pounds sold steady, lighter weights $2-5 higher. Receipts totaled 580 head.

Heavy Llano Feeder Cattle Some Softer
Feeder steers and heifers were mostly fully steady except a little softer on 650-800 pound steers and heifers and 300-400 pound steers. Slaughter cows were $1-2 higher, bulls steady.

Bradley Ranch Bull Offering Sells Out
The Bradley 3 Ranch has sold its entire 1998 listing of bulls, first offered Feb. 14, at an average price of $2532 per head.

Coming Up...
February 28 — All-Breeds Bull Sale, Deming Livestock Market Inc., Deming, New Mexico. February 28 — Part I Special Cow and Heifer Sale, Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba, Texas. February 28 — Part II Special Cow and Heifer Replacement Sale, Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba, Texas.