By KARI KRAMER | East Texas Edition

March 9, 2006 - Clayton Shulz of Choctaw County, Okla. is facing one charge of animal cruelty after the Choctaw County Sheriff’s Department and Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association discovered nearly 200 underweight cattle on his property near Soper.

“Someone had called, I’m assuming the county sheriff’s office, and they contacted me,” said Roy Rankin with the Choctaw County Farm Service Agency.

Rankin said FSA is involved with the case after it was determined that the agency held a lien on the cattle. Rankin said when he initially visited the property on Feb. 24, the cattle appeared to be “very thin.” In addition he said 42 dead cows and calves were found on the 320 acres where Shulz lived and operated his Brangus cattle operation.

The cattle were removed from the property and taken to the Hugo Livestock Market. A representative at the sale barn said the cattle were in better shape than most reports made them out to be and added that their condition improved during their stay at the barn.

The cattle (approximately 100 cows and 80 calves) were sold during a March 3 sale at the barn. As the lien-holder, FSA received the money generated from the sale of the cattle.

If convicted of one count of animal cruelty, under Oklahoma statutes, Shulz could face felony punishments of up to five years in the State Penitentiary, up to one year in county jail, and/or could be forced to pay a fine up to $500.