Kansas Stockyards Selling Triple The Cattle

Brutal heat combined with continuing drought
is forcing some Kansas ranchers to sell off spring cattle earlier
than they had planned.
Kansas’ auction markets are
seeing more than triple the number of cattle they typically have at
weekly sales.
For example, about 14,500 head of cattle were sold at rings at
Pratt, Salina and Dodge City last week. Last year, those auction
markets sold a total of 4,300 head.
The lack of rain has dried up ponds and pastures that feed and
water the cattle. Ranchers are hauling water or buying hay because
their own supplies have disappeared.
The Kansas Agricultural Statistics Service says more than half
of the range and pasture conditions are in poor or very poor
condition.