Farmers Could Lose Cattle in Snow

By Jon Jordan, NEWS 9

GUTHRIE, Oklahoma -- All across the state ranchers are scrambling to make sure their cattle are safe. NEWS 9 spoke to farmers who fear they may lose some cows once the snow finally clears.

"I've got a big front wheel assist tractor and that's all I can get around with. I mean it's just really tough right now," said Lynn Easterwood.

And with snow totals of more than two feet and snow drifts even higher, it's not just tough for cattle farmers like Lynn Easterwood. In the northwest part of the state right now, it's desperation time.

Easterwood said it was possible that he could have lost cattle after the massive snow storm, partly because this spring storm couldn't have hit at a worse time- just as baby calves are being born.

"It can get really bad especially on new born calves coming from a temperature of 102 degrees and all of a sudden outside where its 30 degrees, and so that's a massive change for their bodies," cattle farmer Paul Fruendt said.

Fruendt, a cattle farmer in Guthrie who has dealt with a similar snowfall, said when snow storms hit like the one in Guymon back in 2007 there is only so much a farmer can do to save his cattle.

"You try to do the best with what you have, constantly putting out feed and making sure they have shelter, making sure they have water, but in a way his hands are tied," Fruendt said.

"It's going to be a day or two getting to all of them and it's going to be hard on them, but I hope we don't lose any," Easterwood said.

If just five percent of the state's cattle are lost from the spring snow storm it can wreak havoc on the industry for the rest of the year.