Drought causing ranchers to sell cattle

With nearly 25 percent of the state in a moderate drought, cattle ranchers are selling more livestock. As a result, Kist Livestock Auction is seeing from 1,000 to 1,300 more heads going to sale than usual for this time of year, according to Matt Lachenmeier, a fieldman at the Mandan business.The drought conditions, coupled with a depleted hay supply from the tough winter, have left ranchers without feed and with little hope for a good hay crop this summer.“The conditions are pretty severe in much of the state,” said Julie Ellingson, executive vice president of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association. “Hay crops look to be poor, or, in some cases, no crop.”Cattle being auctioned are from a widespread area and other sales barns in the state are seeing similar increases, according to Lachenmeier.According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, the state has had less-than-average precipitation during the past three months, with portions of central and south-central North Dakota receiving only 25 percent and 50 percent of normal precipitation during this period. Spring so far has been the seventh driest on record in Bismarck.