Colo. Ranchers Selling Off Cattle To Avoid Drought Loss

Ranchers in western Colorado are selling off cattle to avoid losing them to a severe drought.

Livestock auctioneer Bill Martin of Loma says his auction barn usually sees between 200 and 400 cows a week, but this year the numbers have sometimes nearly quadrupled.

Martin says the spike in animal sales is due to drought conditions across Colorado, forcing ranchers to sell off this year.

According to KJCT-TV, rainfall on the western slope is down about 30 percent, which makes it tougher and more expensive for ranchers to feed their animals.