Farmers cut their herds

The drought is forcing some Cumberland County farmers to make tough decisions: Which of their cows stay and which go?

The farmers, facing depleted feed stocks this winter, have been culling their cattle herds in recent months. Some farmers have shaved down their herds by as much as 15 percent to 20 percent, said Tyrone Fisher, a livestock agent for the Cumberland County office of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension.

Some farmers are reluctant to cull their herds, Fisher said. But he said cattlemen should treat their livestock like employees in a business.

"You only want to feed those who you know are going to be productive," Fisher said. "It's like keeping a worker that will do nothing for you."

The cull is necessary because drought conditions have driven the cost of feed up. Farmers will probably spend $350 to $500 per head on hay this winter, Fisher said.