CASPER, Wyo. (AP) - Wyoming ranchers have been selling off
cattle early because there's not enough grass for them to graze on
because of the drought.
     The Torrington Livestock market sold more than 17,000 head of
cattle in June, nearly ten times as many as normal. More ranchers
are also delivering animals they've sold this month, rather than
wait until August or September.
     Others are trying to move their cattle to pastures in other
states but that's an expensive option.
     One of the Torrington market's owners, Michael Schmitt, said he
expects higher cattle sales to continue, reducing the number of
cattle in the state by up to a third.
     The sell-off started as Wyoming ranchers were still trying to
recover from the drought that started in 2002.

     (Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)