GETTING RARER by the day, Angora goats and the hardy folks who raise them have been bedeviled by a long drouth in mohair demand as well as the one in their pastures. Producers have attacked the lackluster market with an array of innovative new product ideas ranging from mohair socks to upscale carpets and oriental rugs, but it will take time to see which ones catch on. Meanwhile, Mother Nature’s water boys seem to have lost their maps to much of Texas.

Lamb Prices Steady, Meat Cuts Higher
Fat and feeder lamb prices held fairly steady around the country this week despite weakness in the carcass trade. Slaughter ewes were firm in Texas, weaker in the Midwest. Lightweight lamb carcasses lost $3 last week with weights under 55 pounds in New York at $158.50; weights over 55 pounds held steady at $166.50.

Plains Fed Cattle Movement Liberal At Steady $60 Rate
Last week’s big jump in prices on the basis of a bullish futures trade inspired confidence among cattle feeders going into battle this week; disdaining the $60 prices they’d so handily gained last Thursday and Friday, they were asking anywhere from $62 to as much as $64 on Monday.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

Short Course Attendees Hear Ways To Manage Through Drouth
A crash course in basic drouth management was a timely adjunct to the 44th annual Beef Cattle Short Course and Trade Show here last week. More than 1100 producers attended the three day event.

Snooks Sparks Made A Hand For Several Large Outfits
Now in his eighth decade, A.M. "Snooks" Sparks laughs as he refers to his "bachelor's camp," a small stucco house on McClelland Street here in Clarendon, near where he started his career as a cowboy.

Congressman Wants To Know USFS Links To Green Groups
U.S. House Resources Committee chairman Don Young, R-Alaska, wants to know just who among Forest Service bureaucrats is playing footsie with anti-grazing extremists.

IBP Boasts Of Win In P&S Suit Despite Judge’s "Cease" Order
In what critics describe as "spin" worthy of the Clinton White House, meatpacking giant IBP is claiming victory after a recent ruling that actually found it in violation of the federal Packers and Stockyards Act.

Alabama Man Brings Screwworms Back From Brazilian Jungle
Alabama health and agriculture officials were taking steps over the weekend to control a possible infestation of flesh-eating screwworms after the larvae were found on a Huntsville man who had recently traveled to Brazil.

GOP Tax Cut Bill To Include Provisions For Agriculture
The downturn in farm country has caught the attention of Republican House leaders, who plan to include several items to benefit farmers in a tax-relief bill to be presented next month.

Dwindling Membership Ends Trapping Group
Dwindling membership has spelled the demise of the Irion/Reagan county predator control club.

Price Reporting Could Help Dispel Distrust Of Packers
A U.S. Senate proposal that would require meatpackers and others to disclose all livestock sales could help end some distrust, North Dakota livestock interests say.

Nation’s Feeder Cattle Prices Trended Higher Late Last Week
Feeder cattle and calf prices were unsettled last week with early sales on steers and heifers steady to $2 lower, yearlings as much as $4-5 off in Oklahoma City. Late week sales found prices near steady with some $1 higher.

Texas Fed Cattle Reach $60, Weights Still Above Year Ago
Slaughter steers and heifers closed $1 higher in Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma feedlot trading last week after being as much as $1 lower early in the period. Daily movement was noted with the bulk being traded on Tuesday and Thursday.

Angelo Lambs Steady, Feeder Cattle Higher
Feeder and slaughter lambs sold steady this week, slaughter ewes firm to $2 higher. Receipts totaled 11,779 head.

Most Goldthwaite Sheep, Goats Lower
Feeder lambs were scarce, slaughter ewes and bucks near steady to $2 lower; stock Angora goats untested, slaughter nannies and muttons $2-10 lower; slaughter Spanish nannies and muttons $5-8 lower.

Graham Feeder Cattle Prices Widely Mixed
Feeder steers weighing 250-450 pounds sold $2 lower, yearlings 50 cents to $1 higher, heifer calves $1 higher, yearlings steady, slaughter cows steady to $1 lower, stock cows and pairs fully steady to $10 higher.

Junction Feeder Lambs, Stock Angoras Steady
Feeder lambs sold steady, slaughter ewes $2 higher; stock Angora nannies and muttons mostly steady, slaughter nannies and muttons $5-7 higher, kids $3 lower, other classes $3 higher; stock Spanish nannies steady, slaughter classes $2-4 higher.

Llano Lightweight Steers Move Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold fully steady with lightweight steers $2-3 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 639 head.

U.S. Meat Production 4.3% Above A Year Ago
Total red meat production under federal inspection last week was estimated at 855.9 million pounds, down .4 percent from a week earlier and up 4.3 percent from a year ago.

Kansas Feeder Steers Higher, Heifers Lower
Feeder steers sold steady to $2 higher in Kansas direct trade last week, heifers mostly $1 lower. Weather was mild with thunderstorms producing rain amounts from traces to three inches. Sales were confirmed on 4421 head.

Most Lampasas Feeder Cattle Steady To Up
Feeder steers weighing under 600 pounds sold steady, heavier weights $2 higher, heifers $2-3 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $2-3 lower. Receipts totaled 1062 head.

San Saba, Brownwood, Mason Feeders Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold mostly steady in Mason, Brownwood and San Saba last week, weights under 300 pounds $1-3 higher, slaughter cows and bulls $2-4 lower, bred stock cows in fair demand. Receipts totaled 3003 head at the three sales.

Colorado City Feeder Steers, Heifers Hold
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, slaughter cows $1 lower, bulls steady, bred stock cows and pairs steady. Receipts totaled 1062 head.

Cuero Feeder Steers, Heifers Sell Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 2350 head.

Most Giddings Feeder Cattle Prices Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold higher with some sales $7 up, slaughter cows and bulls higher. Receipts totaled 611 head.

Most Fredericksburg Cattle Prices Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 1562 head.

Letters To The Editor

Loose Ends

Coming Up...
August 13 — Special Calf and Yearling Sale, Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba, Texas. August 14 — Special High Dollar Calf and Yearling Sale, Junction Stockyards, Junction, Texas. August 15 — Special Cow Sale, Pearsall Livestock Auction, Pearsall, Texas.