Texas Panhandle ranchers face losses and grim task of removing dead cattle killed by wildfires

The full extent of the cattle casualties in the wildfires, which consumed 1,950 square miles (5,050 square kilometers), disrupted nuclear power operations, razed hundreds of homes, and claimed two lives, remains uncertain. While some ranches may suffer severe losses, the impact on consumer beef prices is expected to be minimal.

"The value of each of these deceased cows ranges between $2,500 and $3,000," lamented Bowers. "Financially, it's a colossal burden."
As the top cattle producer in the nation, Texas faces a staggering toll on its bovine population. Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller estimates that the number of deceased "range" cattle likely reaches into the thousands. Fortunately, the majority of the state's herd, concentrated in feedlots and dairies, remained unscathed.
The cause of the fires is still under investigation, although strong winds, parched grass, and unseasonably warm weather undoubtedly fueled their spread.
Initially, flames swept across the Texas Panhandle, devouring the grassy plains and scrub lands of the region's cattle ranches.
Come Friday, ranchers faced a grim task: traversing miles of scorched earth to dispose of the charred remains of their cattle. Those too severely injured to survive the historic wildfires would have to be euthanized.
"We're dealing with the aftermath today," remarked Chance Bowers, operator of X-Cross-X Ranch, as his team used a bulldozer to gather dozens of blackened carcasses along a dirt road. A massive claw hook then lifted them into an open trailer. These unfortunate beasts were found near a fence line, amidst the desolation left behind by the raging inferno, destined for a rendering plant rather than a burial.
Bowers anticipates losing at least 250 of the 1,000 cattle across the X-Cross-X ranch's three locations due to burns or smoke inhalation, a devastating blow during calving season.
"The aftermath will reveal the true extent of our losses," he sighed. "In this pasture alone, we've counted 70 casualties."
The fluctuating number of cattle in the region, driven by ranchers renting pastures for their herds, saw a surge due to abundant rainfall in recent months, enticing ranchers to send their livestock to the area, explained Ron Gill, a professor and livestock specialist at Texas A&M University.

The loss of vast swathes of grassland to the flames, coupled with the destruction of barns and fences, will compound the hardships for ranchers and surviving cattle, noted Jay Foster, special ranger and supervisor for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association in the Panhandle. The cost of replacing a mile of fencing can soar up to $10,000.
"It's akin to a desert out here now," Foster observed. "Just like hungry children at the dinner table, the cattle need to eat, and with the grass gone, it's a dire situation."
Bill Martin, who oversees operations at Lonestar Stockyards in Wildorado, where ranchers auction their cattle weekly, highlighted the impact of the wildfires on an already diminished national cattle inventory due to years of drought.

"This will have a profound impact," Martin emphasized. "Ranchers invest years in developing their cattle's genetics, ensuring their health with vaccines and proper nutrition, only to witness such devastation. Some have lost everything, while others have suffered significant losses."
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