Cattlemen pull together to save livestock stranded by Ike
By BARRY SHLACHTER
barry@star-telegram.com
More than 4,000 cattle died in Hurricane Ike and its aftermath, and cowboys on horseback are working to drive 11,000 more to high ground, above the salt-contaminated surge line left by the storm, the Texas AgriLife Extension Service said Tuesday.
"Some ranchers will be devastated," said Monty Dozier, an extension agent from Anahuac, due east of Houston.
A survey of much of Chambers County and parts of Jefferson County identified about 15,000 cattle, of which about 20 percent were dead, said Andy Vestal, the extension service liaison to the state operations center for Ike.
"This is not all the cattle expected to be found stranded or dead, but it is a good start in locating these animals that are in dire need of assistance," Vestal said. Read More
Rural America’s most shining moments usually happen during the darkest days. Neighbors work together to rebuild their operations and communities. But that comes second to making sure everyone is safe and the livestock are taken care of. The producers in the affected areas have a long road ahead of them, but they will come through this stronger than before. Rural America always does.
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