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CURRENT LOCAL LIVESTOCK REPORTS AND NEWS OCT. 6, 2020CURRENT LOCAL LIVESTOCK REPORTS AND NEWSCURRENT LOCAL LIVESTOCK REPORTS AND NEWSCURRENT LOCAL LIVESTOCK REPORTS AND NEWS OCT. 6, 2020OCT. 6, 2020

Coastal Bend

CATTLE GUARD

Page 2 • Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020 • MySouTex.com

PACKER BULLSAll Weights .............................69-86PACKER COWSCanners & Cutters ..................50-60Poor & Weak ...........................21-35PALPATED10 Bred ...................................66-72PAIRS2 pair ...........................1125 & 1200STEER CALVES (AVG-HIGH)Under 200 lbs......................170-200200-249 lbs ................................ 150250-299 lbs .........................146-174300-350 lbs .........................145-180350-400 lbs .........................147-198400-450 lbs .........................137-194450-500 lbs .........................128-158500-550 lbs .........................129-158550-600 lbs .........................127-144600-700 lbs .........................121-134700-800 lbs .........................119-126

BULL CALVES (AVG- HIGH)Under 250 lbs......................160-205250-300 lbs .........................148-192300-350 lbs .........................151-200350-400 lbs .........................146-200400-450 lbs .........................136-188450-500 lbs .........................127-180500-550 lbs .........................125-150550-600 lbs .........................119-139600-700 lbs .........................116-132Over 700 lbs ........................113-125HEIFERS CALVES (AVG-HIGH)Under 200 lbs........................98-190200-250 lbs .........................134-146250-300 lbs ......................132-207.5300-350 lbs .........................121-190350-400 lbs .........................119-162400-450 lbs .........................125-180450-500 lbs .........................117-137500-550 lbs ......................115-117.5550-600 lbs .........................117-170600-700 lbs .........................114-180Over 700 lbs ........................111-124

Friday, October 2, 2020Number of Head: 2,151

SALES EVERY FRIDAY @ 10 AM

There were 219 cows and 37 bulls. The packer market was again a little weaker. A good run of cows and bulls saw the top price of $3/cwt on cows and $1/cwt on bulls. All this is in line with the seasonal break in the packer market. The calf market was essentially a steady market in line with last week’s rise in prices. Some of the lighter weights were still showing as much as $10-$13/cwt increase in tops on top of last week’s big jump.

Comments were that there are just not many light cattle coming to market. All other heavier classes were unchanged. Just a good solid market across the board.

Tractor accidents, grain entrapment and injuries from ornery livestock are just some of the dan-gers agricultural workers face every day. In fact, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health says agriculture is one of the most hazard-ous industries in the Unit-ed States.

In 2016, the agricultural industry had a rate of 21.4 deaths per 100,000 work-ers, and each day agricul-tural workers experienced 100 non-fatal, lost-work-time injuries.

Agricultural dangers are not limited to North America. In Ireland, farm accidents have increased by 13 percent in the last five years and by 31 per-cent in the last decade, according to a national survey of farm accidents conducted by the Teagasc National Farm Survey. Furthermore, 97 percent of all farm accident vic-tims required medical treatment.

Farms are dangerous places, and while careless-ness can and does con-tribute to many incidents, accidents also take place during routine, seemingly safe activities. These farm safety guidelines can help lower the risk of injuries.

• Know farm equip-ment. Read and follow all instructions in the equip-ment operation manuals. In addition, attend local farm safety workshops to learn more about specific equipment and products.

• Conduct routine safe-ty checks. Look around buildings and grounds for

obvious hazards, such as fire hazards and hazard-ous materials, including farm chemicals that are not stored correctly.

• Practice cleanliness. Maintain clean and neat work areas with tools stored properly and out of the way after use.

• Be mindful of your clothing and hair. Many accidents involve a power take-off system, or PTO, which is a common com-ponent of large rotary mowers, tractors and for-age choppers. Clothing can easily get caught in an engaged but unguarded PTO stub. It’s easy for laces or coveralls to be-come wrapped around a spinning stub shaft. The PTO driveline and other protrusion points also can be dangerous if people do not pay attention.

• Use rollover protec-tion structures. ROPS can be used on tractors and other equipment to pre-vent injuries. In addition, wear seat belts and em-ploy other safety equip-ment as advised.

• Avoid extra passen-gers. It can be tempting

to take the kids for a spin, but do not allow addition-al passengers to ride on agricultural equipment.

• Exercise caution when handling chemicals. Take extra precautions when handling any chemicals, including pesticides.

• Wear protective gear. Wear appropriate gear and equipment as outlined by NIOSH or the Mine Safe-ty and Health Administra-tion. Make sure the skin, feet, ears, eyes and hands are protected at all times.

• Employ lock out/tag out control. This is a process where one can work on equipment only after every energy source has been controlled, such as hydraulic, pneumatic, mechanical and electrical, according to Rural Mu-tual Insurance Company. Turning off equipment and using certain controls or locks on devices can prevent equipment from restarting before it is safe to do so.

Farm safety should be a priority for owners, their families and employees so that agricultural injuries can be reduced.

Tips for safer farming

see LIVESTOCK, P. 3

Extreme weather is sel-dom fun for anyone. Al-though people often have the means to escape in-clement weather, animals are at the mercy of their caregivers.

Protecting animals dur-ing extreme weather is not restricted to domesticated pets. Those who have live-stock on their properties must recognize that these animals will need various levels of care as well. An-imals such as chickens, cattle, goats, and llamas can be adversely affected by extreme weather. In-

dividuals can heed these safety guidelines to avoid subjecting such animals to the stress, discomfort and illness that can result from exposure to extreme weather.

Suitab le sh elterOne of the best ways to

safeguard livestock from extreme weather is to en-sure they have a place to escape the elements. Ani-mals can get sunburned and may overheat, so make sure shelters can block the sun’s rays on hot days while also al-lowing for air to circulate

through the dwelling. It’s also key that the

shelter be capable of ac-commodating all of the animals at the same time.

Livestock shelters do not have to be complicat-ed. They can be as elabo-rate as a barn or as simple as carports or tarps and shade cloth.

Fr esh w aterAccess to fresh, clean

water is also essential. Dehydration can set in, particularly for animals with thick coats or those

Protecting livestock in extreme weather

that are young or elderly. Animals tend to expend a lot of energy to cool down or stay warm, so they will need an ample supply of water to remain hydrated and healthy.

Standing water can be-come a breeding ground for parasites and insect larvae. Therefore, change water frequently to make sure it is sanitary. Some farm experts advise aer-ating troughs to help pre-vent algae growth or mos-quito infestations. A small amount of raw apple cider vinegar may help as well.

However, always discuss water sanitation methods with a veterinarian before testing them out on farm animals.

M old - f r ee f eedHot, humid tempera-

tures can cause mold to grow on hay and other feed sources. Cows do not like to eat moldy hay and it can make horses ill. The University of Minnesota Extension says horses are particularly sensitive to dust from mold spores and can get a respiratory disease similar to asthma in humans called recur-

rent airway obstruction, or RAO, which is often referred to as heaves.

Hay needs to be dried out before it is fed to ani-mals. Any feed should be stored in cool, dry condi-tions and inspected before being dispersed to live-stock.

H air cutWooly animals may

benefit from a shear prior to the onset of hot weath-er, advises the Maryland Small Ruminant group. Do not shear too short. For instance, a one-inch fleece can dissipate heat

and help the sheep keep cool.

RestLivestock should not be

worked and handled dur-ing the heat of the day. Their productivity levels may be diminished, and the extra exertion may af-fect their health. Rest will help them stay happy and healthy until the extreme weather has subsided.

MySouTex.com • Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020 • Page 3

Nixon Livestock Commission, Inc.

1924 E. State Hwy 87 Nixon, TX 78140(830) 582-1561

October 5, 2020Volume: 1383

Cows: 84 Bulls: 21 STEERS200-300lbs. $124-134-173300-400lbs. $139-149-200400-500lbs. $129-139-190500-600lbs. $118-128-163600-700lbs. $113-123-140700-800lbs. $109-119-134

HEIFERS200-300lbs. $123-133-173300-400lbs. $119-129-193400-500lbs. $114-124-143500-600lbs. $111-121-135600-700lbs. $104-114-138700-800lbs.$ 98-108-116

USE TEXT STYLES

Sellers: 187 - Buyers: 45

Slaughter Cows .. $29-50Slaughter Bulls... $68-84Stocker Cows ...$600-1000Pair ..........................None

The agricultural industry provides a va-riety of opportunities to professionals in-terested in this often misunderstood field.

According to the employment resource AGCareers.com, more than 250 career profiles are available to people interested in a career in agriculture. And while jobs in agriculture may not be as prevalent as they were a few centuries ago, when 72 percent of the workforce was employed in farm occupations in the United States, agriculture remains a booming industry that greatly affects the nation’s economy. Today, one in 12 American jobs is de-pends on agriculture, according to the career resource Payscale.

The following are some potential pro-fessions for those considering careers in agriculture.

• Agricultural business manager This person oversees the business operations of a farm by providing organization and leadership during the production process. He or she contacts creditors, selects seeds, buys new equipment, and ensures the dis-tribution of product.

• Agricultural lawyer Attorneys who specialize in agriculture deal with water and environmental issues, represent agri-cultural labor in disputes, ensure proper marketing techniques are followed, han-dle real estate and land use issues, and much more.

• Animal control officer These officers enforce local and regional laws that per-tain to the treatment and care of animals. They patrol for distressed animals and ensure cruelty-free practices are adhered to.

• rain buyer rain buyers build re-lationships with producers so they can purchase grain for their particular com-panies. They negotiate purchase agree-ments, source grain supplies and issue purchase orders.

• Poultry hatchery manager atch-ery managers oversee all of the aspects involved in poultry hatching. These can include management of personnel, han-dling and sorting of eggs, maintenance of equipment, coordination of pick-ups and deliveries, and overseeing quality control.

• Soil scientist Among the many tasks they might perform, scientists in the field of agriculture test soil samples for min-erals and contaminants. By studying the soil, scientists can recommend which crops the land can support, how much livestock can feed in an area and the im-plications of agriculture on the area as it pertains to managing natural resources.

A career in agriculture presents many exciting opportunities in a number of dif-ferent applications. It’s a vast industry that utilizes professionals with an array of skillsets.

Explore a career in agriculture

LIVESTOCK, f r om P. 2

Animals such as ch ick -ens, cattle, goats, and llamas can b e ad v er sely af f ected b y extr eme w eath er . Ind iv id uals can h eed th ese saf ety guid elines to av oid sub j ecting such animals to th e str ess, d iscom-f or t and illness th at can r esult f r om exposur e to extr eme w eath er .