ON SHORT GRASS and cake, these yearlings near Uvalde have enjoyed fresh green pickings in recent weeks, but the produce section will soon run short of leafy vegetables if the area doesn't rain. Like much of the rest of the state's southwestern quadrant, the Nueces Strip has missed out on most of El Niño's bounty.

Lamb Prices Tumble As Imports Jump
Fat and feeder lamb prices as well as those on slaughter ewes moved sharply lower at most markets this week, and our foreign trading partners get some of the blame. Declines ranged from $2 to $4 for the most part, but extremes ranged up to $8 in some areas.

Plains Fed Cattle Sell Early, Prices Higher In The Bargain
Plains fed cattle trade bucked two recent trends this week by selling early — and gaining money at the same time. Neither one of those have happened very often lately, and almost never in conjunction.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

Brazilian Cattlemen Touring Panhandle Feedlots, Markets
The Texas Panhandle was turned into a classroom last week as a group of "foreign exchange" students were exposed to the practical world of cattle feeding. Sixteen Brazilian cattlemen, led by a private educational project, toured feedyards in Hereford, visited the Amarillo Livestock Auction, went to Hale's Angus Farm in Canyon, and spent an evening with Panhandle native Tom Christian at his Figure Three Ranch on the rim of Palo Duro Canyon eating steaks and peach cobbler.

Buster Welch Used Horseman’s Talents As A Means To An End
When talk turns to cutting horses, the name Buster Welch isn’t far behind. After all, Welch has won the National Cutting Horse Association World Championship Futurity a mere five times. It might be assumed that for someone like Welch, working with cutting horses is his life.

Capitol, Friona, McDonalds, And Excel Form Joint Venture
What started as an independent research project has grown into a business. Those involved in the Beef Advantage Project have formed a limited partnership to expand the study into a commercial venture, says James E. Herring, president of the new company.

TAHC Votes Not To Require Coggins Tests At Auctions
The Texas Animal Health Commission will not require a Coggins test for horses offered at public sale, although a TAHC document must be attached to the buyer's sheet notifying the purchaser that the animal has an unknown Equine Infectious Anemia test status.

1998 Oklahoma Beef Congress April 15
The 1998 Oklahoma Beef Congress is set for April 15, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Oklahoma Feeders Inc., eight miles east of Guthrie on Highway 105, then north 1½ miles on Coyle Road (Indian Meridian).

Counter-Seasonal Pattern Seen For Slaughter Cattle Prices
Placement numbers for cattle on feed during recent months suggest a counter-seasonal pattern for fed cattle prices in 1998, says an Oklahoma State University agricultural economist.

Perry, Sharp Debate Ag Issues At Cattle Raisers’ Convention
Candidates for lieutenant governor of Texas squared off Tuesday at an old-fashioned political rally staged by the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association during the group’s 121st annual convention in Dallas.

Prosecution Of Grizzly Case Example Of Government Amok
Late on the night of September 9, 1989, John Shuler of Dupuyer, Montana, heard the sounds of grizzly bears in his yard. He grabbed his rifle and ran outside. When Shuler saw three bears near his sheep pen, he fired into the air, causing the bears to flee. Shuler then turned to go into his house, only to be confronted by another grizzly bear. It rose on its hind feet, spread its paws, and let out a roar. Believing that he was in mortal danger, Shuler shot and fatally wounded the bear.

Checkoff Dollars Used For Aging Study Of Retail Cuts
Supermarket meat managers can enhance the tenderness of some fresh beef cuts through planned aging, according to a recent Texas A&M University study funded with beef checkoff dollars through the Texas Beef Council.

U.S-Canada Beef Trade Agreement In Red Tape
A U.S.-Canadian agreement to encourage two-way trade in cattle between Montana and Alberta has snagged because of red tape added to the deal in Ottawa, cattlemen say.

After Long Rest, Mike Smith Returns To Steer Wrestling
After being out of PRCA competition for a year and a half due to a knee injury, bulldogger Mike Smith, Baton Rouge, La., is now back in winning form. Smith, who finished runner-up to the world championship in 1990 and ‘93, is now back in the world-title hunt, sitting in the 14th slot of the March 30 Crown Royal World Standings.

Superior Livestock Video Sale Offering Totals 36,000 Cattle
Superior Livestock Auction offered more than 36,000 feeder cattle and breeding stock at their regular video auction. Consignments were from 22 states and Mexico.

Angelo Feeder Lamb, Cattle Prices Lower
Feeder lambs sold $2-4 lower this week, a few oldcrops steady, slaughter lambs $2-3 lower, ewes $3-5 lower. Receipts totaled 9048 head.

San Saba, Brownwood, Mason Feeders Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $2-6 higher in Mason, Brownwood and San Saba last week, yearlings coming off small grain fields $2-4 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady to strong, pairs and bred cows steady.

Graham Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Higher
Feeder steers sold steady to $2 higher, spots $3 up on lightweights, heifers steady to $2 higher, slaughter cows steady to $1.50 lower, bulls 50 cents to $1 lower. Receipts totaled 1724 head.

Most Llano Cattle Prices Move Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold fully steady to $5 higher, slaughter cows $1-2 higher. Receipts totaled 348 head.

Milano Feeder Cattle Sell Steady To Higher
Feeder steers weighing under 500 pounds sold steady, over 500 pounds $1-3 higher, heifers under 600 pounds $2-3 higher, over 600 pounds steady, slaughter cows and bulls steady.

Letters To The Editor

Loose Ends

Coming Up...
April 15 — Special Cow Sale, Floydada Livestock Sales, Floydada, Texas. April 18 — Heart of Texas Special Replacement Female Sale, Groesbeck Livestock Commission, Groesbeck, Texas. April 18 — Special Replacement Cow Sale, Colorado City Livestock Market, Colorado City, Texas. April 18 — Heart of the Panhandle Classic Consignment Sale, Amarillo Livestock Auction, Amarillo, Texas.