Cattle call issued at stockyard

By JAMES CLARK / Editor for the Southern Standard (McMinnville, Tenn.)

Warren County Livestock manager D.M. Simpson looks over a load of calves in preparation for today’s livestock sale. Around 3,000 head of cattle are expected to exchange hands at the local sale. (James Clark photo)

David Buford has simple advice when it comes to handling cattle.

“I always say rule No. 1 is to be smarter than the calf,” said Buford, who has raised cattle all his life. “That might seem pretty apparent, but some of these young guys who come in here, they don’t know you always have to stay one step ahead.”

Buford, along with the rest of the employees at Warren County Livestock, had their hands full yesterday evening. Trucks of all sizes were lined up outside the cattle barn unloading trailer after trailer for what workers are saying could be a record feeder calf sale today.

Manager D.M. Simpson had his hands full as the steady stream of cattle never stopped. Workers such as John Kester had the chore of rustling what turned out to be some unruly steers and heifers into the right stalls.

That can often be easier said than done, especially when a calf decides it doesn’t want to follow orders.

“I was knocked out by a bull in ’93,” said Buford. “When I came to, it was driving its head into my back. That incident put me down for about two weeks.”

With around 3,000 head of cattle expected to change hands today, at an average price of $500 a head, that equates to around $1.5 million.

Today’s sale is one of 15 feeder calf sales Warren County Livestock conducts each year.