Blizzard Killed, Weakened Thousands of Cattle

TOPEKA, Kan. —  The weekend blizzard took a sharp toll on the livestock industry, killing thousands of cattle in feedlots and on the open range and leaving others unable to reach forage.

Industry officials said up to 2% of the cattle in Kansas feedlots could have been killed, and others suffered severe weight loss in the storm.

“It could be up to 20,000 head, and that’s only the death loss,” said Kelly Loganbill of the Kansas Livestock Assn. in Topeka.

“It’s going to be well over $1 million, closer to $2 million, just in our lots,” said Roy Brown of Cattle Empire, which had about 100,000 head of cattle in three feed yards in southwest Kansas when the storm hit.

The storm has also been blamed for the deaths of at least 17 people in seven states.