Producers dealing with drought-related hardships 
Authorities watch for cases of livestock abuse, trash dumping

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

Sales of cattle and horses are increasing as hay supplies continue to tighten, and water supplies dwindle. Cattle prices remain steady, but horse prices continue to decline. -- Staff photo

Jan. 19, 2006 - Even though some folks saw the lightning and heard the pitter patter of raindrops this past week, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out it is still dry. 

As these conditions continue, livestock producers are dealing with the hardships. Winter pasture, if planted, hasn’t produced much, if any, forage. Hay prices, due to lack of area supply, are high. Now, many livestock owners are faced with depleted water supplies.

Many producers culled their herds earlier in the year because of drought conditions, but many are now saying the hardships are too much and they are dispersing their herds.

Over the last several weeks, many North and East Texas sale barns have seen increasing cattle numbers, yet “most cattle are in pretty good shape for the (weather-related) conditions,” according to numerous sale barn owners. 

At Cattlemen’s in Paris, owner Charles Mallicote said the barn saw over 3,800 head for their Thursday and Saturday sales, the first week of January.

�We ran over 3,800 with nearly 700 cows on Saturday and nearly 400 cows on Thursday,� Mallicote began about the increased numbers.�

Of these cows, Mallicote said many of the “younger, good cows” were bought to go in a herd, versus the older cows were being sent to slaughter. A lot of people are also sending their yearlings on to the feedlot. 

�One good thing in the cattlemen�s favor is the prices are still high. Normally this time of year, the prices are lower,� Mallicote said.�

The owner suspects opening of exports has helped the market.

He is worried about those who are completely dispersing their herds because “we rely on those calves for next year’s sales.”

Mallicote, like many sale barn owners, agree that the cattle are in good shape, even though, the grass is short. “Maybe it’s because the grass has so much dry matter,” he commented.

Mallicote, himself, has been affected by the drought and is trying to hold on to his best cows; but “if they are open or early bred, we are culling.”

It’s the same song at Tri-County in New Summerfield where numbers are also increasing. “People are starting to sell because of lack of water and hay. A lot of people didn’t have enough hay to begin with,” a spokesperson said on Jan. 10.

Meanwhile feedlots are also beginning to fill, even with some reporting this is the fullest they have been in years.

A spokesperson for Cactus Feedyard in Cactus said, “The yearlings are coming off the wheat early. This is mostly what we see in March or April. We are in good shape (at the feedlot). One plus is corn is cheaper and producers can put their cattle into the feedlot cheaper.” 

The spokesperson also said they expected the future calf crop to be affected because of cows not being feed properly now, which will result in “a lot less tonnage on the market in coming months.”

While cattle market is still experiencing good prices, the depressed horse market continues to decline. Horses are selling at an even cheaper price, according to Steve Hawkins at the H & H Horse Center in Simms. 

�We have had about the same number of horses coming in. The difference, I have seen, is more people are taking less money and not P.O.�ing,� Hawkins said. (P.O. means to �pass out� of the ring without sale, ordered by the seller, when the auctioned price is not what they wanted for the animals.)

Sellers’ willlingness to let the horses sell for less than what they want may be indicative of the hay/water hardships.

Taking care of these animals is another concern that not only producers have, but also authorities. Although conditions are severe, local sheriff’s departments say they have not experienced an increase in animal cruelty calls, in regards to cattle or horses being starved. 

�There has not been an influx of calls. We are still getting around the same amount per week,� stated a Wood County deputy.�

In nearby Upshur County, they are getting around four or five animal abuse calls a week, but so far, none of the cases have warranted further intervention. 

Another question pondered across the dry rural North and East Texas area, where all counties are under a burn ban, is about the handling of trash. Many rural residents are used to burning their household trash and feed sacks.

Officials state there are only two options ... trash pick up or taking the trash to the local landfill. 

Some phone calls generated a sampling of the expense. Trash pick up cost $14-$17 plus tax per receptacle in Smith County. Tabor Sanitation, which services several East Texas counties, charges $18.95 (INCLUDES TAX) per month for one receptacle. Landfill cost varies from landfill to landfill but it is based on the cubic yard. A cubic yard is about three to four trash bags. Pleasant Oaks Landfill in Mount Pleasant charges $7.69 per cubic yard. The same service cost $6.50 in Smith County. 

For either service, contact a local trash pick up service or landfill to find out their cost and schedules.