Areas the east of winter storm Goliath’s worst impact are being scorched by the Anderson Creek wildfire. The combination of the two events in the past 90 days means much of the South Central region, where livestock grazing dominates, faces more challenges. This area has been hit by severe drought in recent years, as well.
Source: Associated Press, March 28, 2016.
The fire zone is home to thousands of cattle, with the latest estimate by the National Agricultural Statistics Service showing more than 47,000 head of cattle in Barber County in early 2015 and another 35,500 in neighboring Comanche County, which was also affected by the fire. Authorities haven’t given official estimates on the number of livestock that perished or that had to be euthanized due to the fire.
Also see: How can I help?, Drovers CattleNetwork, March 26, 2016.
Efforts are underway by industry groups to assist those livestock producers who are in need of help after the devastating Anderson Creek Fire.
Also see: Latent effects of winter storm, Vet Advantage Digital, March 2016, page 6.