THE INDIANS' CATTLE, as early Spanish explorers dubbed them, these buffalo east of Denver look somehow incongruous gathered around a man-made watering. The scene has a domesticated air, but the photographer wisely chose not to climb over the fence for a closer shot.

Lamb Prices Soft, Ewes Up And Down
Feeder lambs were generally in small numbers around the country and prices were mostly on the weak to lower side. Some prices moved off around $5 in the Midwest while some in Texas were up a couple of dollars.

Plains Fed Cattle Trade Stuck On High-Center Through Midweek
It was another one of those "quiet" weeks in Plains fed cattle trade, at least through presstime.Packers were bidding $59 and feedlots asking $63, neither side willing to give much. Given a higher futures board, feedlots seemed to feel they held a fairly strong hand, particularly with many cattle set back by last week's winter storm.

PLAINS FEEDLOT SALES

RANGE SALES

OSU Economist Offers Cautious Optimism About Cattle Market
This year should be better for U.S. cattlemen than last, says an Oklahoma livestock marketing specialist. Dr. Derrell S. Peel of Oklahoma State University, however, is only cautiously optimistic, and a lot of that optimism depends on how the year develops.

Terrific Weather Sparks Hope For Imperial Lamb Feeders
Weather-wise, California's Imperial Valley lambs are having their best season in many years, but only time will tell about the erratic lamb market. Members attending the recent National Lamb Feeders Association annual convention in San Diego had an opportunity to tour the Imperial Valley and see first-hand some of the lamb feeding operations there.

Lamb Numbers, Prices Compete During '98 In Race For Bottom
Nineteen hundred and ninety-eight will go down in history as a banner year for the lamb market — a black banner. The market began 1998 about $10-15 below 1997 levels and from there it never really recovered. In fact, it got progressively worse.

Old Forest Service Hand Sees Range Issues From Both Sides
Fred Galley has seen the public range controversy from both sides now — and he still doesn't have an answer. Galley was one of the first Range Conservation Officers with the U.S. Forest Service in the 1950s. Today, he ranches in New Mexico.

FDA Proposes Sweeping Limits On Antibiotics For Livestock
The government plans to impose strict new rules on antibiotics given to livestock to combat concerns that the medicines are creating drug-resistant germs that wind up in the meat people eat.

Espy Aide's Sentence Upheld Against Appeal
A federal appeals court has upheld the conviction of Ronald Blackley, onetime chief of staff to former Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy.

Trade Rep Sees No Indication EU Complying With Beef Edict
Days after a temporary ceasefire was called in the trade battle between the United States and the European Union over bananas, another row over food seemed set to reignite Monday.

U.S. Sheep And Lamb Inventory Drops To New Record Low Level
The total U.S. sheep and lamb inventory for January 1, 1999, at 7.24 million head, was down eight percent from a year ago and 10 percent below two years ago.

Pork "Bailout" Catching Flak, Even From Hog Men Themselves
Direct emergency payments to help struggling hog farmers sets ``a dangerous precedent'' in the livestock industry, cattlemen say. And the subsidy has also angered pork producers, who say the amount was not only insulting but also causes more problems.

Hagel, Dorgan Back Ag Gains Tax Relief
Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., joined North Dakota Democrat Byron Dorgan Tuesday in offering legislation in the U.S. Senate to include the family farmer in capital gains tax breaks given non-rural homeowners.

Hagel Says Embargoes Should Not Include Ag
U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., said Thursday there is no place to single out U.S. agricultural products when it comes to foreign trade embargoes.

Burlington Announces Major Plant Closings
Burlington Industries Inc. has announced what it calls a "comprehensive reorganization" of its apparel fabrics division that will include closing seven of its U.S. plants and laying off an estimated 2900 employees.

Bulldogger Takes Home Personal Earnings Record In Denver Show
Bulldogger Justin Davis, Sidney, Mont., wrestled his way to the biggest check of his career at the recent $447,599 National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver, Colo., annually one of the PRCA's top five rodeos in terms of total prize money.

Cattle Count Off One Percent For The Year At 98.5 Million
All cattle and calves in the United States as of Jan. 1 totaled an estimated 98.5 million head, down one percent from the revised figure of 99.7 million for the same date last year and three percent below the 1997 total of 101.7 million, which has undergone its second revision.

Most Feeder Cattle And Calf Prices Moved Lower Last Week
Feeder cattle prices around the country generally turned lower last week. Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $2 lower except in Kentucky, the Southeast, Wyoming and the Northwest, where prices were steady to $2 higher.

Texas Fed Cattle Prices Lower Last Week In Forced Trading
Slaughter steers and heifers moving direct in the Texas Panhandle and Western Oklahoma last week closed mostly $1 lower than two weeks ago. Movement the previous week was light, leaving nearly two showlists to sell.

U.S. Meat Production 3.6% Above A Year Ago
Total red meat production under federal inspection last week was estimated at 885.7 million pounds, five percent less than a week earlier and 3.6 percent more than a year ago. Cumulative meat production for the year to date was up .3 percent at 3.78 billion pounds.

Angelo Feeder Lambs Weak, Cattle Higher
Feeder lambs sold weak in a light test this week, slaughter lambs firm to $1 higher, slaughter ewes $4-5 higher. Receipts totaled 7504 head, around 35 percent slaughter ewes and 40 percent goats.

Most Llano Cattle Prices Move Higher
Feeder steers sold steady to $4 higher, the advance on lightweights, heifers steady to $2 higher, the advance on lightweights, slaughter cows $2-3 higher, bulls $2 higher. Receipts totaled 363 head.

Abilene Feeder Steers, Heifers Mostly Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold mostly steady, slaughter cows and bulls fully steady, stock cows steady, pairs $30-40 higher. Receipts totaled 1103 head.

Domestic Wool Slow, Foreign Wools Lower
Domestic wool trading was slow last week under light demand. Seller interest was limited by those holding 1998 wool. Limited shearing was noted in the Pacific Northwest, Midwest areas and Texas again where weather permitted.

Kansas Direct Feeder Cattle Trade Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold firm to $1 higher in Kansas direct trade last week. The weather was cool most of the week with 8-12 inches of snow in some local areas on Thursday night. Sales were confirmed on 12,957 head.

Lampasas Feeder Steer, Heifer Prices Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady to $1 higher, slaughter cows and bulls steady. Receipts totaled 1400 head.

Junction Angora Goat Prices Mostly Higher
Feeder lambs sold steady, slaughter lambs steady, slaughter ewes $2 lower; stock Angora kids and nannies $4 higher, slaughter muttons and billies $2-4 higher, other slaughter Angoras steady to $1 higher; slaughter Spanish goats mostly steady, stock nannies steady. Receipts totaled 2500 head.

San Saba, Brownwood, Mason Feeders Higher
Feeder steers weighing under 500 pounds sold $2-7 higher in Mason, Brownwood and San Saba last week, heavier weights steady to $3 higher, heifers steady to $2 higher, slaughter cows steady, stock cows and pairs steady to strong. Receipts totaled 3666 head at the three sales.

Graham Feeder Steers, Heifers Ruled Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, slaughter cows steady to $2 higher, stock cows and pairs $10-20 higher. Receipts totaled 917 head.

Texas Goat Numbers Now Same As Sheep
The January 1, 1999 Texas goat inventory was down four percent at 1.35 million head, the same number as the sheep and lamb inventory, which was down 12 percent.

Goldthwaite Feeder Lambs Trend Lower
Feeder lambs sold $2 lower, slaughter lambs steady, slaughter ewes $3 lower, bucks steady; slaughter Spanish goats $3-5 higher, stock nannies $2 higher; slaughter Angora goats $3 lower. Receipts totaled 3000 head.

Cuero Feeder Cattle Sell Steady To Off
Feeder steers and heifers sold mostly steady except lightweights lower, slaughter cows $1-3 higher. Receipts totaled 1485 head.

Most Colorado City Cattle Prices Higher
Feeder steers and heifers sold $1-3 higher, slaughter cows $1-2 higher, bulls steady. Receipts totaled 313 head.

Fredericksburg Feeder Steers, Heifers Steady
Feeder steers and heifers sold steady, slaughter cows and bulls $1 higher. Receipts totaled 1709 head.

Letters To The Editor

Loose Ends

Coming Up...
February 6 – Bradley 3 Angus and C Bar Charolais Sale, at the ranch, Memphis, Texas. February 20 — 5th Annual 7P Ranch Spring Bull and Commercial Female Sale, Longview Livestock Commission Company, Longview, Texas. February 21-22 — Hats Plus Sales Two-Day All-Breed Horse Sale, San Antonio Rose Palace, San Antonio, Texas.